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St. Louis Cardinals fans are surely frustrated with how the 2024 season is unfolding, but they may have the opportunity to cheer for a franchise legend in a managerial role if the National League Central team decides to make some changes.
Jon Heyman of the New York Post reported Thursday that manager Oli Marmol “might pay the price” of his job if the struggles continue.
Heyman then suggested the Cardinals could turn toward either Yadier Molina or Albert Pujols for a managing job since both are interested in taking that step in their careers.
That doesn’t mean either of the Cardinals legends are the frontrunners.
In fact, Heyman called Miami Marlins manager Skip Schumaker “the most obvious candidate” for the Cardinals should they make a change. Miami already agreed to drop the 2025 club option on his contract, so Schumaker will be free to go to St. Louis or somewhere else as soon as next season.
He won the Manager of the Year award last season while leading the Marlins to an 84-78 record and playoff berth. He also has a Cardinals connection considering he played the first eight years of his career in St. Louis from 2005 to 2012.
Schumaker helped lead the Cardinals to the World Series crown in 2011.
So did Pujols and Molina, who are two of the best players in franchise history. Molina spent his entire 19-year career with the franchise as a two-time World Series champion, 10-time All-Star, nine-time Gold Glover and Silver Slugger winner.
Pujols played the first 12 years of his career with the Cardinals and was a two-time World Series champion, three-time National League MVP, NL Rookie of the Year, six-time Silver Slugger, two-time Gold Glover and nine-time All-Star.
While neither have managerial experience in the major leagues, Molina managed the Puerto Rico team in the 2023 World Baseball Classic and leads the Navegantes del Magallanes in Venezuela. Pujols is slated to manage the Leones del Escogido in the Dominican Republic.
It would be quite the jump to the Cardinals for either of them, but they are beloved members in the history of the franchise and would surely be welcomed by the team’s fans. That is especially true if the 18-25 Cardinals continue to struggle this year.
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