Cardinals: Ranking bench coach replacements for St. Louis

The St. Louis Cardinals had new leadership in the clubhouse during the 2022 season with a first year manager in Oli Marmol and new bench coach Skip Schumaker joining him in the dug out. The success of that new leadership got Schumaker a managerial gig in Miami, and now leaves a new opening at bench coach for St. Louis.

Many names have been floated out as potential replacements for Schumaker, as the Cardinals could go many different directions. Whether it is a former player, a promotion on Marmol’s staff, or someone else within the organization, the Cardinals have a lot of good options to choose form.

Here are the four best options to replace Schumaker as the Cardinals new bench coach in 2023.

#4 – Yadier Molina

The Cardinal legend got his farewell tour in 2022 as he wrapped up his playing career, but the future Hall of Famer is no where close to being done with the game of baseball.

Yadier Molina lives and breathes baseball. He sees the game on a level that few others do. The 40-year old is interested in managing gigs moving forward, and already has opportunities lined up as the Puerto Rico National Team manager and with teams in Venezuela.

If Molina sees himself as a Major League manager in the future, taking on the Cardinals bench coach role in 2023 could be the fast track to a role with another club. In consecutive seasons, the Cardinals bench coach has become a manager after the season (Marmol and Schumaker), and the role would give Molina a chance to show teams around the league that his on-field managing translates to full-time in the dugout.

He’d be a great fit for St. Louis, but it seems more likely that Molina will pursue his other opportunities. If he has interest though, St. Louis should make a strong offer.

#2 – Stubby Clapp

Speaking of former Triple-A Memphis managers, Stubby Clapp has been the Cardinals first base coach since 2019 and is in line for a promotion within the organization.

Clapp was the manager of the Memphis Redbirds from 2017-2018, leading the club to the Triple-A Championship and earning a promotion to the Major League staff. Many wondered if Clapp would replace Mike Schildt as manager, but ended up missing out to Marmol.

Clapp is a clubhouse favorite and is the only player to have his number retired by the Memphis Redbirds. He checks every box that a club would want in a bench coach role and is surely being considered for the role at the moment.

Outside of a creative promotion like Ben Johnson, the only thing that could get in the way of Clapp getting the role with St. Louis would be if another former player threw his hat in the ring, which is why Clapp is number two on this list.

#1 – Matt Holliday

For months now, Matt Holliday has had his name thrown into the ring as a potential coach for the Cardinals, and recently added fuel to the fire by indicating interest in the bench coach position. 

Holliday was inducted as a Cardinal Hall of Famer in 2022, and has been a lot of time around the organization this year celebrating that and his former teammates. The 42-year old consistently talks about his love for this organization, and it seems like a very real possibility that Holliday would join the Cardinals dugout in 2023.

After losing Schumaker, Albert Pujols, and Molina already, Holliday’s presence would be a huge boost to a clubhouse that has a strong mix of veterans and young talent. Holliday’s pedigree garners respect, and he is someone that people tend to gravitate towards.

Many have suggested Holliday to become the Cardinals new hitting coach, as he has been spending time the last few years as a volunteer assistant hitting coach with Oklahoma State’s baseball team. Why not bring that experience to the bench coach role and have many different hitting voices in the dugout?

Mozeliak must do his due diligence in checking with Holliday for the role. If Holliday is serious about the position, then this is a slam dunk decision for the Cardinals front office.