The St. Louis Cardinals have been one in every of Major League Baseball’s maximum disappointing groups this season. Despite harboring playoff aspirations in the spring, they completed final in the National League Central with a 71-91 mark. This was once the primary time in 33 years, or for the reason that 1990 marketing campaign, that the Cardinals recorded a last-place end or a 90-loss season.
The Cardinals have already declared that supervisor Oli Marmol will go back for the 2024 season. Marmol’s coaching crew would possibly come with a brand new member, albeit one that provides a well-recognized face to the Cardinals franchise. Longtime backstop Yadier Molina, who retired after the 2022 season, is reportedly open to becoming a member of the Cardinals in some capability, both in management or as a trainer.
“I had the opportunity, when I went a few weeks ago to Adam Wainwright’s (the farewell for his retirement), to sit with (the management) and several points were discussed,” Molina told Gabriel Quiles of Puerto Rico’s El Vocero in Spanish, according to Jeff Jones of the Belleville News-Democrat.
“We hope that if something happens, it will happen soon and if not, I would still be willing to continue helping them when they need me while I am here in Puerto Rico. They have the knowledge of my willingness (to assume a position in the management or coaching staff).”
As Jones studies, Molina would like to grow to be the Cardinals’ bench trainer. While that spot is recently stuffed via Joe McEwing, the Cardinals performed coy with Jones, declining to verify that McEwing stays below contract for the 2024 season (despite the fact that the workforce is assumed to cling an possibility on his products and services).
Molina, 41, spent his complete 19-year big-league profession with the Cardinals. He was once arguably essentially the most well-regarded defender of his technology, drawing top marks for his staff-handling. At least for a time, he was once additionally answerable for positioning the remainder of the Cardinals’ protection. Since returning, received coaching revel in via managing Puerto Rico as a part of the World Baseball Classic.
If the Cardinals do rent Molina as their bench trainer, it is going to mark the second one consecutive wintry weather the franchise has tabbed a former superstar for that place. Last 12 months, Matt Holliday authorized the process handiest to renounce forward of spring coaching.