St. Louis Cardinals Dismiss Manager Mike Shildt

photo: Mike Shildt via Zoom (Brian Walton/The Cardinal Nation)

St. Louis Cardinals press release

The St. Louis Cardinals announced this afternoon (Thursday, October 14) that they have agreed to part ways with Manager Mike Shildt.

Mike Shildt (USA TODAY Sports Images)

“While these decisions are difficult, both parties agreed that philosophical differences related to the direction of the organization brought us to this conclusion,” stated Cardinals’ President of Baseball Operations John Mozeliak. ”With just one year remaining on Mike’s contract, it was in everyone’s best interests that we address this now.”

Shildt, 53, was named the Cardinals interim manager on July 15, 2018 and had his interim title removed on August 28, 2018.  He spent 13 years (2004-16) in player development as a scout, coach and manager before joining the Cardinals Major League coaching staff in 2017.

In his three-plus seasons as the Cardinals Manager, Shildt posted a 252-199 won-loss record and was voted National League Manager of the Year in 2019 by the BBWAA.

Today’s announcement marks just the third managerial change for the Cardinals dating to 1996, when the team hired Hall of Fame Manager Tony La Russa.  Mike Matheny (2012-18) and Shildt (2018-21) have followed La Russa’s 16-year tenure in St. Louis that was capped off with a World Series title in 2011.

Brian Walton’s take

I join the many Cardinals followers who was surprised by the move. In a hastily called Thursday afternoon Zoom call hosted by Mozeliak and his boss, team chairman Bill DeWitt Jr., the PBO called it a “dismissal” and “a baseball decision”.

The stated reason was “philosophical differences”. When asked to define the organization’s philosophy, Mozeliak said the organization has trust in creating a pipeline from the minors to the majors to grow internally. He went on to say they did not want to debate that, with the implication that Shildt did. Mozeliak added that Shildt was “very shocked” by the decision.

The rift appeared to come to a head in an internal organization meeting last Friday, and “the conclusions came quickly,” per Mozeliak. The situation “evolved rapidly” and the Cardinals “did not want it to drag into next week,” receiving permission for the unusual timing to make the announcement during the MLB post-season.

Hitting coach Jeff Albert is under contract for 2022 and is expected to return. A Post-Dispatch question about potential friction between the manager and hitting coach was de-emphasized as a factor in the firing. The other coaches from 2021 could return as well, though one might be in the big chair.

Mozeliak suggested they could have a replacement for Shildt within the next month and acknowledged that several internal candidates will be considered. Names were not offered, but first base coach Stubby Clapp has recent managerial success in Triple-A. Bench coach Oliver Marmol also managed in the minors but is a very close ally of Shildt. A number of external candidates could be on Mozeliak’s list. One up and coming name is former Cardinal Skip Schumaker, who was most recently associate manager for the San Diego Padres under another recently axed skipper, Jayce Tingler.


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Brian Walton can be reached via email at brian@thecardinalnation.com. Follow Brian on Twitter.

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