5 bold moves the Cardinals need to make to overhaul their organization this offseason

#2 - Hire Albert Pujols as their next manager

I like Oliver Marmol as a manager. I don't necessarily think he needs to lose his job - and honestly, I'd support him staying in the seat next year. But if there is change up top, it is often followed by a change in the dugout, and Marmol hasn't accomplished enough in this league to warrant protection when cleaning house.

Especially if they can swap him out for Albert Pujols.

While I do have my reservations about bringing in a Pujols or Yadier Molina to lead the clubhouse (mainly because if things go south that is a very difficult relationship to navigate with how much they mean to the organization and fanbase). But with that being said, I think Pujols would be a home-run hire for an organization in desperate need of some wins.

Let's start with what we know - Pujols will have his first managing gig this offseason, managing Leones Del Escogido in the Dominican Winter League. Pujols has made it known he'd like to coach at the Major League level and one day become a manager. Could that happen as soon as this offseason? It would be a bold move for sure.

Bernie Miklasz reflected on the idea of Pujols managing recently on his YouTube channel, and had some terrific insight on the hypothetical hire that swayed me from the "keep Oli camp, maybe hire someone else" to "Pujols is the perfect fit".

Miklasz dropped a little nugget that, per some conversations, he was privy to when Pujols returned to St. Louis for Adam Wainwright's retirement celebration, Pujols made it known to the organization he'd like to coach and get involved with the Cardinals.

Miklasz also highlighted how respected Pujols would be the second he walked into the dugout for the Cardinals in that capacity, and we saw in 2022 how influential he was on both veterans, like Nolan Arenado, and young players, like Juan Yepez. Pujols is someone who will have a tough conversation with a player if needed but will also lead the clubhouse with honor and respect. He's also a major student of the game, and pair that with the resume he has, who wouldn't want to play for him?

Also, talk about the kind of fan response they would get from installing Pujols in the dugout. If the club tries to content in 2025, fans would get behind this team in a heartbeat to support Pujols in that way. If the club goes more toward a youth movement and retool, how fun would it be to watch Pujols guide a young team and help them learn to win?

The hiring would be bold, but it honestly makes too much sense in my opinion, as long as Pujols would actually want to do that. My guess is that if he's already made it known he'd like to coach, he'd surely accept a manager gig, especially since that is his long-term goal.