JUPITER, Fla. — The St. Louis Cardinals have locked in manager Oliver Marmol for the long haul, announcing Sunday that the skipper has agreed to a two-year contract extension that will keep him in the dugout through at least 2028.
The new agreement also features a team option for the 2029 season, according to the franchise.
“As I’ve gotten to know Oli, I’ve seen someone who cares about this organization and knows what has made the Cardinals special over time, and who understands that for us to get where we need to go, we must compete relentlessly to set new standards in everything that we do,” Cardinals president Chaim Bloom said in a statement. “He is invested in the progress of our young core and is unafraid to challenge himself and to help those around him grow.”
The 39-year-old skipper has been at the helm in St. Louis for four campaigns, guiding the team to a National League wild-card appearance during his inaugural season as manager. However, the Cardinals haven’t reached postseason play in the subsequent three years, finishing with a disappointing 78-84 record this past season.
Despite the recent struggles, the Cardinals view the last few seasons as part of a broader organizational reset, with Bloom stepping into his role after longtime executive John Mozeliak and the team working to revitalize its roster. This context makes providing continuity with Marmol a logical move, as he now ranks as the National League’s third-longest serving manager, trailing only Dave Roberts of the Dodgers and Torey Lovullo of the Diamondbacks.
Marmol’s history with the Cardinals organization dates back to 2007 during his playing career. After spending five years managing in the minor league system, he joined the major league coaching staff in 2017 before being promoted to the top job on October 25, 2021.
Through his four seasons leading the Cardinals, Marmol holds a 324-323 record.
