The St. Louis Cardinals have missed the playoffs for a third straight season. Regardless, the team has decided not to make a change in the manager. According to Katie Woo of The Athletic, Marmol will return as the manager in 2026.
Marmol's status has long been in question due to major front office changes for the Cardinals. It was more in question after missing the playoffs again. Since 2000, the Cardinals have failed to reach the postseason three straight years just twice. The other stretch was 2016 through 2018, which saw manager Mike Matheny dismissed during the 2018 season.
Moreover, the Cardinals have had a losing record just three times since the 2000 season. Two of those years have happened under the watch of Marmol as the manager. Marmol took over the job for the 2022 MLB season, and at age 35, was the youngest manager in baseball. The Cardinals made the playoffs his first year, winning 93 games, but were swept by the Philadelphia Phillies in the NL Wild Card Series.
Since then, things have not been great in St. Louis. He has missed the playoffs each of the last three seasons, and has just once season over .500. Further, he is now 325-323 as a manager. This gives him the lowest win percentage for a manager since Mike Jorgenson, who managed just 96 games in the 1995 season after Joe Torre was let go.
How long will Marmol last?
The Cardinals are not opposed to mid-season changes, but it is rare. The last time they did a mid-season change was 2018, firing Matheny and hiring Mike Shildt. Before that, it was when Joe Torre was fired during the 1995 season.
Marmol should have a short leash heading into the 2026 campaign. Considering three teams from the division made the playoffs, and there are now six playoff spots, expectations in St. Louis are, at minimum, a playoff berth. Regardless, the Cardinals missed the playoffs by five games this season, with the four other teams in between them and the playoffs. Unless a massive turnaround happens, Marmol may not last long in St. Louis.
