9 potential Cardinals managers if Oliver Marmol is fired this season

Oliver Marmol's managerial seat was warm at the end of the 2023 season. While the contract extension that was doled out to him at the end of the season gave him some confidence and assurance, his job security was heavily dependent upon the team's success in his third season at the helm.

A sub-.500 start to the season has opened up the discussion about his viability as a manager. For the second season in a row, the St. Louis Cardinals are off to a rough start. While the offense has sputtered, blame is still typically placed on the coaching staff. Turner Ward, the team's hitting coach, is probably at fault. However, the field manager's name will also be brought up whenever a team performs below expectations.

Should Oliver Marmol be fired this year, the list of potential replacements is deep. Some of these people have connections to the Cardinals organization while others would be outside voices that are wholly unfamiliar with the vaunted "Cardinal Way".

Here are 9 managerial candidates who could replace Oliver Marmol.

Carlos Beltran

Carlos Beltran was close to becoming a manager just 3 years after his retirement. The New York Mets planned to have Beltran be their manager in 2020, but the two parties mutually agreed to part ways due to Beltran's involvement in the Houston Astros cheating scandal in 2017. He never managed a game.

The Mets decided to bring Beltran back on staff in 2023, though in a different role. He has been a special assistant to the Mets general manager Billy Eppler and is now an assistant to the president of baseball operations David Stearns. He is still in that role.

The desire to be a manager is still there for Carlos Beltran; his on-field presence with the team has grown in the last year, and he's traveling with the Mets throughout the year. In a recent interview with the Score, Beltran stated that "I just want to be there and hopefully share my experience with them, and hopefully, it can influence them in a positive way. If someone can make, let's say, an adjustment that allowed him, that player in particular, to improve, that's positive. And that's what motivates me. I'm motivated by that. ... I love to be around."

Beltran's career is marred by cheating in 2017, but he clearly has a high baseball IQ and a desire to work with players of all ages and abilities. His familiarity with the Cardinals organization from his playing time here in 2012 and 2013 plays in his favor.

Matt Holliday

Matt Holliday was one of the best players to play in the 2010s for the St. Louis Cardinals. He was a fan favorite. The Cardinals originally hired Holliday to be the bench coach late in 2022 after Skip Schumaker signed to manage with the Miami Marlins. Holliday stepped down from that role in January of 2023 before making a single appearance with the team.

After being hired in November, Holliday stated that he wanted to spend more time with his family, but the opportunity to manage was something that he didn't want to pass up. "Obviously, with my kids I wanted to be home and around them as much as possible -- and still do -- but this was an opportunity that I wanted to pursue and it's an opportunity I couldn't pass up."

His feelings on the situation changed soon after, however. Holliday's departure was simply for "family reasons", but it's assumed that he wanted to see his sons begin their professional careers. His eldest, Jackson Holliday, is the top prospect in baseball and recently made his MLB debut.

Holliday's interest in managing is still present; Bob Nightengale reported as recently as September that Holliday is interested in managing in "the next few years". If Marmol is fired, and if the Cardinals can convince the 42-year-old former player to come manage, he would be a great fit.

Once again Holliday's familiarity with the organization bodes well for him. He could also be good at tapping into veterans, something the Cardinals have plenty of. Holliday was an excellent offensive player during his career; he finished with a 132 OPS+, seven All-Star nominations, 4 Silver Slugger awards, and a batting title. Offense is something the Cardinals desperately need, and Holliday could provide some counsel in that respect.

Terry Francona

Terry Francona was a manager in baseball for 23 years before calling it quits at the end of the 2023 season. He has managed for the Philadelphia Phillies, Boston Red Sox, and Cleveland Indians/Guardians during his career. He has two World Series Titles and 3 Pennants on his resume, though most of his success came in Boston from 2004-2011 (just ask any fan of the Cardinals during that era).

Upon his departure, Francona, 65, didn't use the word "retire" explicitly. In fact, recent reports have indicated that Francona is interested in returning to baseball in a manager capacity.

Tim Kurkjian of ESPN recently reported that Terry Francona would consider returning to the field in the next year and a half. Kurkjian reports that "(I) was told Tito is going to get healthy and then he'll be back [managing] in a year and a half...he loves the game, part of his fiber in every way, would not be shocked to see him back."

Plenty of other teams would vie for Tito's services, and his former employers would likely have a leg up on the Cardinals. However, the organization should still make serious efforts to bring on the wily veteran manager. His experience and success stand alone amongst his peers.

Francona would be a true outside hire for the Cardinals, something that goes against every fiber of Bill DeWitt II and John Mozeliak's fibers. His voice would be more than welcome amongst fans, and players would be willing to listen to his expertise. One of the most exciting parts about Francona's resume would be his 44-34 record in the postseason.

One nugget to note: The Cardinals interviewed Francona as a potential replacement for Tony La Russa after he retired following the 2011 World Series, but opted for Mike Matheny instead. This could be their chance at redemption for missing out on one of the best managers of this generation.

Stubby Clapp

From 2007 until 2016, Stubby Clapp bounced around as a coach in various roles with a wide array of organizations. After having his number retired by the Memphis Redbirds in 2007, Clapp worked with Organizations like the Houston Astros and the Toronto Blue Jays before settling down with his former club in 2016. He was hired to be the manager of the Memphis Redbirds on November 30, 2016.

While manager of the Redbirds, Clapp was able to win two Pacific Coast League titles in 2017 and 2018. His overall winning percentage with Memphis was .619. Clapp was partially responsible for the success of players like Harrison Bader, Tyler O'Neill, Adolis Garcia, Tommy Pham, Stephen Piscotty, Jack Flaherty, Zac Gallen, Paul DeJong, Ryan Helsley, and Randy Arozarena.

Since 2019, Clapp has been the Cardinals' first base coach. He was in the running to be the manager of the big league team after Mike Matheny was fired partway through the 2018 season and once again after Mike Shildt was fired following the 2021 season. Both times he was passed up by another long-time St. Louis Cardinal.

If Marmol were to be fired, Clapp would be a bit of a dark horse candidate. Despite his wild success in AAA, the Cardinals have been hesitant to give him a fair shake at managing in St. Louis. Clapp would be a continuation of the Cardinal Way, as he played for the organization from 1996 until 2002. He was brought up in the system, and he would likely continue it.

Clapp's backflips are memorable, but his tackle of Pete Alonso is a more recent glorious moment in his career. As a coach, he is known for his grit and hard work each day. He would likely bring that fire to his team as a manager.

Jon Jay

Jon Jay, along with Matt Holliday, is a bit more unproven than others on this list. He was brought on as a first base and outfield coach for the 2023 season when Skip Schumaker became manager of the Miami Marlins. He retired in 2021 after playing for 12 years. While he played for 7 different teams, he spent the bulk of his glory years with the St. Louis Cardinals from 2010 until 2015.

Bob Nightengale of USA Today reported last fall that several teams have an interest in hiring Jon Jay to be their field manager. While he is with the Marlins now, there is every possibility that he would like to move up the coaching tree and become a full-fledged manager. Jay's IQ is high; it's expected that translates to the manager role.

Jay was a part of the Miami Marlins coaching staff that led the team to the playoffs for the first time since 2003 (excluding the 2020 season). The list of former base coaches who have become managers isn't long, but it is accomplished. Alex Cora was a humble first base coach for the Houston Astros before becoming the manager for the Boston Red Sox in 2018. Rocco Baldelli was a first base coach for the Tampa Bay Rays immediately before becoming manager of the team he once played for in Minnesota.

The Cardinals could have a leg up when interviewing Jon Jay. He's very familiar with ownership and management. He would be a bit of a risky hire, and his age -- 39 -- would once again make him a young hire for the Cardinals.

Jay may not be the biggest splash of hirings if Oli Marmol were fired, but he would be fun to see back in St. Louis, particularly in such a monumental role.

Albert Pujols

Albert Pujols would be a convivial hire. He is insanely familiar with St. Louis, and he is equally adored by the fanbase. Pujols brought the Cardinals two World Series championships as a player, and he put on a display almost unmatched by any veteran in baseball history in 2022 when he broke several milestones donning the familiar Birds on the Bat.

According to Bob Nightengale of USA Today, Pujols has stated interest in returning to the sport as a manager. Nightengale writes that "Future Hall of Famer Albert Pujols, 44, continues to say he wants to manage one day, perhaps joining former teammate and close friend Yadier Molina."

The contract that Pujols signed with the Los Angeles Angels following the 2011 season included a 10-year personal services contract with the Angels. He honored that commitment after his retirement, and 2024 is only his second season in that role. He will likely finish out that contract.

Pujols would be exciting to see manage in St. Louis, but there are far too many hoops for him to jump through. Whether it be his commitment to the Angels, his patience in returning fully to the sport after retirement, or options to manage in other cities, St. Louis would have to put on quite the show to woo their future Hall of Famer.

Pujols may be the least likely person on this list to manage in St. Louis after Oli Marmol, but he would be one of the most exciting new hires.

Alex Cora

Alex Cora would be the most controversial hire of this collection of candidates. Conversely, he would also likely be the best hire, Francona excluded. He has experienced some mighty highs with a World Series championship, but he also found himself in the dregs of the league for both personal and professional reasons.

Robert Murray, FanSided's MLB Insider, listed Alex Cora as a potential replacement for Oliver Marmol alongside another familiar face (our next candidate). Cora, 48, has ample experience managing. He is a "free agent" manager at the end of this year.

He was hired to manage the Boston Red Sox in 2018, and he immediately led them to a World Series Championship. While he was a major perpetrator in the Houston Astros cheating scandal of 2017, Cora has seemed to put that behind himself. He served his suspension in 2020, and the Red Sox brought him back immediately.

He has a .545 winning percentage with the Red Sox, and despite back-to-back losing seasons in 2022 and 2023, Cora has been able to make do with what he's been given. The 2018 Red Sox team was stacked, but recent iterations of the historical franchise have been less awe-inspiring. This year, the Red Sox are off to a strong start with an 18-13 record.

While Cora doesn't have any connections to the Cardinals from a player perspective, he has one tremendous factor playing to his benefit: Chaim Bloom. Bloom was brought on to be a special advisor to John Mozeliak this past offseason, and the odds of him replacing Mozeliak after the 2025 season are substantial. Bloom may want to start his tenure off with a manager he trusts and is familiar with. Cora fits the bill.

Skip Schumaker

Skip Schumaker joins Alex Cora and Terry Francona as one of the best hires for the vacancy should it arise in St. Louis. Skip's contract included a club option for 2025, and the Miami Marlins have already announced that they will void that final year.

Schumaker, 44, is in his sophomore year as manager of the Miami Marlins. His club has struggled mightily this year, and they have a 9-24 record in baseball, one of the worst in all of baseball. The Marlins have experienced a superfluity of injuries. Sandy Alcantara, Braxton Garrett, Eury Perez, and Jesus Luzardo are all on the Injured List at the moment. On the offensive side, Jake Burger and Avisail Garcia are out for the foreseeable future.

The team's record is not indicative of its manager's abilities. The owners of the Miami Marlins have hamstrung their team offensively, so Skip is left to work with what he's given.

Schumaker played for the Cardinals for 11 seasons as a player, and he was the team's bench coach in 2022. Skip has been lauded for his dedication to his craft, professionalism, and understanding of the fundamentals of the game.

If Marmol is fired, Skip Schumaker should be one of John Mozeliak's first calls. His availability this offseason makes him an even more attractive candidate, and he is quite familiar with the organization. Skip Schumaker would appease fans, he would be comfortable in the organization, and he would bring plenty of success with him.