Fansided

Cardinals rumors: 3 familiar faces to replace Oli Marmol, 1 to avoid at all cost

By Mark Powell

CHICAGO, ILLINOIS - AUGUST 24: Manager Oliver Marmol #37 of the St. Louis Cardinals talks with Yadier Molina #4 during batting practice prior to the game against the Chicago Cubs at Wrigley Field on August 24, 2022 in Chicago, Illinois. (Photo by Michael Reaves/Getty Images)
CHICAGO, ILLINOIS - AUGUST 24: Manager Oliver Marmol #37 of the St. Louis Cardinals talks with Yadier Molina #4 during batting practice prior to the game against the Chicago Cubs at Wrigley Field on August 24, 2022 in Chicago, Illinois. (Photo by Michael Reaves/Getty Images) /
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PORT ST. LUCIE, FL – MARCH 13: Skip Shumaker #55 of the St. Louis Cardinals plays against the New York Mets at Digital Domain Park on March 13, 2012 in Port St. Lucie, Florida. (Photo by Marc Serota/Getty Images)
PORT ST. LUCIE, FL – MARCH 13: Skip Shumaker #55 of the St. Louis Cardinals plays against the New York Mets at Digital Domain Park on March 13, 2012 in Port St. Lucie, Florida. (Photo by Marc Serota/Getty Images) /

The St. Louis Cardinals front office has been patient with Oli Marmol this season, but the mistakes are starting to add up.

If the Cardinals fail to make the playoffs this season despite such high expectations to start the year, someone must answer for that. Marmol is the most likely scapegoat given his lack of previous managerial experience and the countless mistakes he’s made along the way, including alienating two of his best players in Tyler O’Neill and Willson Contreras.

FanSided’s Kevin Henry suggested Marmol could be sent packing before the end of the season, making a case against the 36-year-old for a reason:

"“The question certainly isn’t out of the realm of possibilities. Many predicted the St. Louis Cardinals to repeat as champions of the National League Central with a lineup that included reigning NL Most Valuable Player Paul Goldschmidt, Nolan Arenado, free agent signing Willson Contreras, and plenty of other weapons… Knowing time is of the essence for the Cardinals to turn around their season, could they take a page out of the Philadelphia Phillies playbook from last season? The Phillies axed Joe Girardi after the team’s 22-29 start and elevated bench coach Rob Thomson to the role of interim manager. The move paid off as the Phillies rebounded to not only make the postseason, but also earn a spot in the World Series.”"

If the Cardinals were to fire Marmol midseason, the primary candidate to replace him would likely come from in-house, such as bench coach Joe McEwing. However, while Marmol has earned an in-season firing, the Cards front office has preached patience and stability, making it seem more likely that any decision would happen after St. Louis fails to reach the playoffs. With that in mind, could someone from the Cardinals coaching tree replace Marmol?

Cardinals Rumors: Hire Skip Shumaker to replace Oli Marmol

If Skip Shumaker were managing this Cards team, odds are they’d be in goo playoff positioning right now. Instead, Shumaker was not valued in St. Louis, and took his talents to South Beach. With the Marlins, Shumaker surprisingly has Miami competing for the NL East, and in a Wild Card spot despite having a lackluster payroll. Shumaker and general manager Kim Ng are on the same page, and could upset the likes of the New York Mets and Philadelphia Phillies by claiming a Wild Card spot out of the NL East.

Now, recruiting Shumaker to leave his job in Miami to return home to St. Louis wouldn’t be a tough pitch, but it wouldn’t be easy contractually. Shumaker would have to make clear to the Marlins his intentions on leaving midway through his current deal, and St. Louis could very well have to send Miami some form of compensation for stealing him away.

Shumaker might be the best candidate for this position, but the complications alone make it unlikely.

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