The greatest hitter in a generation could soon take over as manager of the St. Louis Cardinals. Albert Pujols, who guided the Leones del Escogido to the Dominican Winter League championship in January, has been named manager of the Dominican Republic for the 2026 World Baseball Classic. It is another step forward for Pujols, who appears to be baseball’s next hot commodity in the managing market.
Pujols recently stated that he would love to be a manager in the major leagues as soon as this year if the opportunity arises, and teams are undoubtedly salivating at the prospect of the future Hall of Famer leading their lineup. Most players who achieve massive success on the diamond never become managers because their natural talent makes the game more instinctive to them and requires less analysis, but Pujols has a chance to buck that trend, as he has received rave reviews from former teammates for his ability to instruct and connect with them.
It makes too much sense for Albert Pujols to be the Cardinals’ next manager
The Cardinals are in an unusually favorable position to acquire Pujols’ talents, and not just because he spent the best years of his career in St. Louis. With the Cardinals in a transitional moment with Chaim Bloom preparing to take over the organization in 2026 following the retirement of John Mozeliak, current manager Oli Marmol may not have much time left as the team’s captain. Bloom would most certainly want to bring in new faces to the organization, and while he has no immediate connection to Pujols, there is another reason why the Cardinals should make a pitch to the iconic first baseman.
Cardinals ownership anticipates a drop in ticket sales in 2025 and possibly into 2026, and they are working to get fans to the ballpark with giveaways all season. However, appointing No. 5 to supervise the new team would be far more beneficial than any promotional event. The Cardinals have been chastised for pandering to nostalgia in recent seasons, but this move would be massive and far-reaching, surpassing anything the organization has done previously to entice supporters to attend.
Another former Cardinal, Yadier Molina, has voiced a desire to manage at some point, and the Cardinals may consider him for the position as well. However, Molina’s inability to attend Spring Training in 2024 has undoubtedly left a terrible taste in the Cardinals’ mouths. Furthermore, Molina has a history of being unfriendly to the media while answering questions, which managers are required to do after each game. Pujols, who was similarly averse to the media during his playing career, says he had no problems with it while managing in the Dominican Republic.
Pujols presently has a 10-year personal services contract with the Los Angeles Angels, although the contract does have an addendum that allows him to exit the agreement. There appear to be few impediments between Pujols and a position with the Cardinals in 2026, providing no other team signs him first.
Marmol’s days may be numbered, albeit to little fault of his own, since Pujols’ revelation that he is ready to take on a major league managing role in 2025 or 2026 matches well with the Cardinals’ reset and may inspire lapsed fans to reinvest in the team.
