Cardinals Facing Potentially Significant Albert Pujols-Yadier Molina Decision

Marmol is in his fourth season as the Cardinals manager. After a 93-69 record and NL Central division title in his first year, the Cardinals have failed to make the playoffs the past two seasons. With a 7-8 start to 2025, Marmol’s career managerial record sits 254-247.

If the Cardinals are to move on from Marmol, where do they look first? 

Two names that immediately come to mind are fan-favorites and future hall of famers, Albert Pujols and Yadier Molina.

Since retiring, both Pujols and Molina have spent time managing in the Dominican Professional Baseball League. They've each expressed interest in managing at the MLB level and believe they're ready for the job. 

“I’m well-prepared right now,” Molina said in an interview with Katie Woo prior to the 2025 season. “I’ve been managing the last three years in different places, I learned a lot from different people. And I feel ready. I feel like I’m ready right now.”

“I’ve always held on to that desire, and if the opportunity is right and they open the door for me, I’ve always said it openly, I want to have the opportunity to be a manager here in the big leagues,” Pujols said at the Angels 2025 spring training camp.

Pujols will manage the Dominican Republic in the 2026 World Baseball Classic, while Molina will once again serve as team Puerto Rico’s manager.

Rather then having to choose between the two legends, a "safer pick," as Rosenthal points out would be 11-year MLB veteran Skip Schumaker, who spent eight years (2005-'12) with St. Louis and has previous managerial experience. He was named NL Manager of the Year after taking the Marlins to the playoffs in 2023. After being let go by Miami after the 2024 season, he's currently a senior advisor to the president of baseball operations for the Texas Rangers.

There's still a very good chance Marmol - whose contract runs through 2026 - is the one leading the Cardinals next year. 

The outcome of the 2025 season could also play a factor in the front office’s decision, but with Pujols, Molina and Schumaker being intriguing candidates for other MLB teams as well, if the Cardinals want to make a move on one of them, it’s going to have to come sooner rather than later.