Players eagerly anticipate Yadier Molina, esteemed Cardinals icon, joining them in the dugout
Rewritten Article:
Find yourself in a pickle, Oli Marmol? As the gaffer of the St. Louis Cardinals, you're juggling expectations of a potentially lackluster season and two Cardinals legends nipping at your heels, ready to take the managerial reins.
The intense buzz among Cardinals fans is all about getting Albert Pujols or Yadier Molina on board as the team's next skipper. Both stoops asserting their desire to manage in the Majors, and in an interview with St. Louis-based radio station 101 ESPN, former Cardinals pitcher Adam Wainwright dropped a tidbit about Molina's situation.
Seems like Molina's fielding offers from other teams as their manager.
Since managing Puerto Rico in the 2023 World Baseball Classic and currently leading Águilas Cibaeñas of the Dominican League, Molina hasn't accepted any major-league offers yet. The hopeful Cardinals fan might believe he's hanging tight for a call from the Cardinals, but Molina made it crystal clear in an interview with Katie Woo of The Athletic that his family's approval determines his destination - even if that's with the rival Chicago Cubs.
Wainwright showed unwavering faith in Molina's managing chops, asserting he was the smartest baseball person he'd ever crossed paths with. However, Wainwright did admit that Molina might struggle with the media demands that come with the job, jokingly suggesting that Bengie Molina, Yadier's brother, could step in as Yadier's press secretary. Wainwright compared him to former Cardinals coach Jose Oquendo, who he believed also had the makings of a great manager but may have grappled with the media.
Molina hinted in Woo's article that he still feels connected to St. Louis, but the state of the Cardinals could make him hesitant to rejoin the team. Incoming president Chaim Bloom’s arrival in 2026 could also dampen the chances of the future Hall of Fame catcher donning the birds on the bat in the dugout again. Fans won't be showering Bloom with welcomes if Molina slips on another team's jersey next season.
Players would undeniably benefit from Molina's guidance, and it's clear other teams see the potential reward. If the Cardinals aim to reap Molina's wisdom, they need to make their move fast.
Insights:- Yadier Molina has expressed interest in managing in MLB and has ties to the Cardinals due to his career-long association with the team [2][4].- Multiple reports suggest that other teams are eager to poach Molina for managerial roles [1], while the Cardinals face internal pressure to consider him as a possible successor to Oli Marmol [1][2][4].- The incoming president of the Cardinals, Chaim Bloom, lacks connections to Molina, potentially decreasing the odds of Molina managing the Cardinals again [3].- Molina has managed Puerto Rico in the 2023 World Baseball Classic and is currently leading Águilas Cibaeñas in the Dominican League [5].
- Yadier Molina, a potential Cardinals manager, is currently receiving offers from other teams for managing positions in the MLB.
- Despite his ties to the St. Louis Cardinals, Yadier Molina has not accepted any major-league offers yet, including potential offers from the Cardinals.
- Interestingly, Molina stated that his family's approval will determine his managerial destination, which could potentially lead him to rivals like the Chicago Cubs.
- If the Cardinals wish to secure Molina's expertise, they would need to act swiftly, as other teams recognize the potential benefit that Molina's guidance could offer.
