Cardinals' Oli Marmol Had One Word After Yadier Molina News

Cardinals' Oli Marmol Had One Word After Yadier Molina News originally appeared on Athlon Sports.

The St. Louis Cardinals started the season strong but have fallen off since, losing 19 of their last 30 games and falling out of the playoff picture and NL Central race.

This doesn’t come as too much of a surprise, as the organization has shifted into a retooling phase after failing to capitalize on the Paul Goldschmidt, Nolan Arenado, and Ryan Helsley trio the last few seasons. Goldschmidt left in free agency for the New York Yankees, and Helsley was dealt to the New York Mets at the trade deadline.

Cardinals manager Oli Marmol has stressed the importance of forming a tight bond and expanding on the team’s chemistry right now as they look to take steps forward as a franchise next year and beyond.

Yadier Molina Returns to Cardinals in Coaching Role This Weekend

Ahead of Friday’s series against the Chicago Cubs, Marmol announced that former St. Louis legendary catcher Yadier Molina will be in uniform as a member of the major-league coaching staff for the team’s upcoming three-game set. It will be Molina’s first public appearance as a member of the organization since he retired in 2022.

When asked about what he thought when he heard Molina wanted to return to the organization as part of his staff, Marmol used one word and said via The Athletic’s Katie Woo, “Absolutely.”

Marmol went on to explain that Molina’s presence alone would be welcomed for the fans and players despite the team’s uncertain future.

“Anytime you get the chance to have someone like Yadi around your players, you take it,” Marmol said. “It’s a no-brainer. The experience, the leadership, the presence he brings — it impacts everyone. As soon as I heard he was going to be in town, inviting him to sit next to me was the right move. It’s good for the players, good for the staff, and honestly, it’s great for the fans too.”

Molina’s Legendary Career Comes Full Circle in Return to St. Louis

Molina spent his entire 19-year career with the Cardinals organization before his retirement in 2022.

The 43-year-old legendary backstop appeared in 2,224 games for St. Louis and played exceptional defense behind the plate, earning nine Gold Glove Awards and ten All-Star selections. He posted a career .277 batting average, .726 OPS, hit 176 home runs, and drove in 1,022 RBIs, proving his two-way abilities in his prime.

Molina also led St. Louis to two World Series championships in 2006 and 2011, cementing his status as one of the franchise’s greatest stars.

Since his retirement, he has expressed his desire to manage in MLB and will manage Team Puerto Rico for the second time in next year’s World Baseball Classic.

Marmol will be entering the final year of his contract in 2026, and with Chaim Bloom set to take over for John Mozeliak next season, the front office could look to make a change in leadership and move in a new direction.

This story was originally reported by Athlon Sports on Aug 8, 2025, where it first appeared.