The St. Louis Cardinals are in danger of falling short of the postseason for the second consecutive year. If they do miss the playoffs this year, that will also mark the fifth time in the last nine years.
Even a second consecutive losing season isn't out of the realm of possibility. That's something the Cardinals haven't experienced since 1994-95.
Assuming St. Louis falls short, there could be some major changes coming for them, particularly at the managerial position. Oli Marmol has faced much scrutiny over the past two seasons.
Robert Murray of FanSided believes that Miami Marlins manager Skip Schumaker could be a candidate to replace Marmol if the Cardinals go in that direction.
"When he becomes a free agent, Schumaker will be the most coveted managerial candidate," Murray wrote. "His time as a player and his time as a bench coach in St. Louis and San Diego have positioned him to be one of baseball's premiere managers."
Schumaker played with the Cardinals from 2005-12, winning two World Series titles with the team. After his playing career, he served as the bench coach for the San Diego Padres before ultimately taking the job in St. Louis for the 2022 season.
He is in the second season of his stint as the manager of the Marlins, but they have chosen to decline his club option for 2025, which means he could be available for St. Louis this coming winter, especially if Marmol is let go.
Many of the current Cardinals are familiar with Schumaker thanks to his time as their bench coach in 2022. He earned National League Manager of the Year honors last year after guiding the Marlins to the postseason, so the Cardinals would be getting a proven winner if they hire him.
We'll see if he ends up being a candidate for St. Louis.
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