Cardinals Manager Oli Marmol Will Return in 2026 Despite Missing Playoffs Past 3 Years

St. Louis Cardinals manager Oli Marmol will return in 2026 despite front office turnover this offseason, new president of baseball operations Chaim Bloom told reporters after his introductory press conference on Tuesday (h/t The Athletic's Katie Woo).

Bloom, whose hiring was announced last September and who took over after the 2025 season, did not directly address Marmol's future in his press conference earlier Tuesday.

"As far as our field staff, there's still some things that we need to sort out with every single person on the staff, but overall I've enjoyed working with these guys," Bloom said when asked about turnover. "I expect a lot of continuity. It's a good group of people that really cares."

Originally hired by the Cardinals ahead of the 2022 season, Marmol signed a two-year contract extension with the club in 2024. The Cardinals finished with a 78-84 record and missed out on a third straight postseason this fall.

Marmol was in the audience for Bloom's press conference on Tuesday, per Jeff Jones of the Belleville News-Democrat.

The news Marmol is staying in St. Louis comes amid a flurry of managerial turnover that saw the San Francisco Giants part ways with Bob Melvin, the Texas Rangers with Bruce Bochy and the Minnesota Twins with Rocco Baldelli immediately after the conclusion of the 2025 season.

The Cardinals last made it past the Wild Card round in 2019. The club most recently recorded a postseason win in 2020, two years before Marmol was hired.

St. Louis qualified for an NL Wild Card spot as recently as Marmol's first season in 2022, but was swept from the postseason by the Philadelphia Phillies and has not been back since.

Charting a course back to the postseason could be key to keeping some of the Cardinals' stars with the franchise for the upcoming rebuild.

Pitcher Sonny Gray, who helped the Cardinals stay in the Wild Card race for most of the 2025 season, told reporters after the season he is considering leaving St. Louis because of his desire to play for a winning team before he retires.

"I've talked to them a bunch and I know the deal. I know the deal and I've had ample conversations with Chaim and all those guys. I know the direction," Gray said last week, per MLB.com's John Denton.

About whether he would have to consider a trade request, Gray answered, "I think I do."

Bloom's decision to keep Marmol on for another season could ultimately influence whether Gray decides to push for a trade this offseason.

More news about who will be working on Marmol's staff in 2026 is expected "within the following weeks," according to Woo.