Ken Rosenthal is one of baseball’s most informed reporters. When he doubts a manager’s job security, it’s important to listen. In his most recent piece for The Athletic, Rosenthal highlighted Oli Marmol, the manager of the St. Louis Cardinals, as someone to keep an eye on owing to changing power dynamics behind the scenes rather than necessarily subpar play.
Rosenthal noted, “The Cardinals are in a strange position, using the 2025 season to move their head of baseball operations from John Mozeliak to Chaim Bloom.” “Mozeliak’s contract with Marmol is valid until ’26. It makes sense that Bloom would prefer to have his own men. Whom, though?
Employed by Mozeliak and with a contract through 2026, the third-year manager is currently treading precarious territory in a season where legends are looming large and expectations are still high.
Oli Marmol’s Future Is in Doubt, Cardinals Royalty Are Lurking in the Wings
Yadier Molina and Albert Pujols, two of the team’s most recognizable players, have made no secret of their ambition to manage. St. Louis is a franchise rich in tradition. Molina will coach Puerto Rico in the 2026 World Baseball Classic, while Pujols will coach the Dominican Republic. Both have experience in the Dominican Winter League. Their presence casts a shadow over the current administration, forcing Bloom to make a difficult choice in his first significant test as the new baseball manager of the Cardinals.
According to Rosenthal, Bloom’s relationship with Alex Cora in Boston, which was allegedly tense, may have an impact on his next course of action. According to Rosenthal, Bloom’s pals think Cora “was not as supportive of Bloom as he could have been,” which suggests that Bloom is looking for a manager who shares his goals.
Skip Schumaker’s Ties to St. Louis and Potential Reunion
Another former Cardinal with close ties to the group is Skip Schumaker. As Miami’s manager, Schumaker has a track record of success, having been named National League Manager of the Year in 2023. Currently serving as a senior advisor with the Texas Rangers, Schumaker may be the next in line to take over for Bruce Bochy in the event that the 70-year-old retires. However, with familiar friends like Daniel Descalo and Jon Jay already on staff, Schumaker might see a Cardinals reunion as the perfect landing spot should Bochy return.
As Rosenthal points out, there is even conjecture that Marmol would continue to serve as Schumaker’s coach. This is an unusual move, but it illustrates the complexities of the issue and the close ties within the Cardinals’ clubhouse.
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Bloom’s choice could change the course of the team for years to come, and while Marmol’s future in St. Louis is still up in the air, the possibility of a familiar face like Schumaker taking over adds another level of intrigue. As the Cardinals navigate this crucial moment, the decision about who will lead the team in the upcoming years carries a lot of weight.
