5 candidates to replace Mike Matheny as St. Louis Cardinals manager
2. Joe Girardi
Girardi is cut from the same mold as Matheny, as a former catcher with an old school approach that New York Yankees general manager Brian Cashman clearly cited as a key flaw upon firing him. Girardi has openly said he’d like to manage again, and he has become an easy early favorite to replace Matheny in St. Louis.
Got to wonder whether joe Girardi is a candidate for cardinals job. He has a rapport with Mozeliak. As a bonus, hometown Peoria is practically cardinals territory.
— Jon Heyman (@JonHeyman) July 15, 2018
Joe Girardi now favorite to replace Matheny
— Bob Nightengale (@BNightengale) July 15, 2018
Girardi played for the Colorado Rockies from 1993-1995, when Cardinals president John Mozeliak worked in that organization, and the final season of his player career came in a Cardinals’ uniform.
Girardi’s managerial record is solid, with a Manager of the Year Award on his resume (2006 with the Florida Marlins) along with a World Series title (2009), five 90-plus win seasons and a .562 winning percentage as Yankees’ manager (910 wins). So he’s going to be a candidate for any openings after the season.
The Cardinals can be one of the first in line with interest in Girardi, with a more appealing job opening than the permanent one currently in Cincinnati. His experience in the Bronx also has to have prepared him well for whatever scrutiny will come in St. Louis.