The St. Louis Cardinals remain maddeningly unpredictable. Their front office—formerly led by John Mozeliak and now under Chaim Bloom—seems stuck in a holding pattern, even though it’s clear that Oli Marmol isn’t their long-term managerial answer. Instead of parting ways with Marmol this past offseason and bringing in someone aligned with Bloom’s vision, the Cardinals chose to keep him while trying to rebuild on the fly. That indecision has put them at a disadvantage, especially as a division rival makes bold moves—the Pirates dismissed Derek Shelton and may have gained an edge because of it.
In the meantime, Don Kelly has taken over as interim manager for Pittsburgh. A veteran assistant, Kelly has the opportunity to make a strong early impression and potentially earn a permanent spot. Whether or not the Pirates make the right long-term choice, they at least have time on their side—something the Cardinals can’t say.
Why didn’t the Cardinals fire Oli Marmol last offseason?
The Cardinals chose to retain Oli Marmol partly because of his background in player development, hoping he could guide key young talents like Jordan Walker and Nolan Gorman to the next level. Instead, both have struggled significantly, each batting below the Mendoza line. While Marmol has acknowledged they have time to grow, that time isn’t unlimited.
Following the 2024 season, Marmol openly tied his managerial success to the growth of these young core players, stating that the team needed to be built into a consistent contender—not just one that sneaks into the playoffs occasionally. He expressed confidence in the group’s potential, calling the future bright. But several months into the new season, that optimism hasn’t translated into results.
The front office has seen enough to understand that Marmol isn’t the leader to usher in a new era of playoff baseball in St. Louis. And yet, he remains in charge. Meanwhile, the Pirates made a decisive move in firing Derek Shelton, acknowledging he wasn’t their long-term answer. In contrast, the Cardinals are simply running out the clock.
