Hochman column on Oli

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Chat GPT estimates Marmol's salary between 3 and 4 million annually.

Goole's AI says "Oliver Marmol's estimated salary as a MLB manager is approximately $778,650 for the 2025 season, according to a Baseball Prospectus report detailing his recent contract extension. This reflects the value of his new one-year contract signed in March 2025 with the St. Louis Cardinals."

I think it is between those 2 figures. 778K would be the equivalent of player minimum wage. It's likely more than that. I'm guessing between one and 2 million.

Even so, that's negligible. BDW didn't save Schildt or Matheny, even though they were in the middle of contracts. Most of all, the big man is clearly thinking about the future, since he's having Molina cosplay as manager. If your boss told you not to come into work next week because he's having a new guy do your job for a day, just to see how it feels, what would you think of your job security?

It is odd that the sports journalists keep throwing water on the idea of firing Marmol, but that could just reflect the current FO's protection of Mo's "legacy" for now.

If BDW does keep him, the only reason is to give fans the finger.

It might be negligible to you and me since it isn't our salary, but real important to Oli. He's likely at the tail end of any serious salary in MLB. I hope he's saved a lot of his 4+ million the past 4 years. After '26, he isn't likely to see much of a baseball paycheck.

Frankly, I don't think JR had much to do with Schildt's firing. That looks purely like a Mo decision. JR was asked to buy in and he did. My guess is that JR will let Chaim decide when it's time for Oli to leave.

Break out the violins for a guy making $4 million the last 4 years by our estimation. How will he ever survive? Well, if he's as good at managing money as he is at managing an MLB team, he may have blown much of it already.

[hugeCardfan]

Chat GPT estimates Marmol's salary between 3 and 4 million annually.

Goole's AI says "Oliver Marmol's estimated salary as a MLB manager is approximately $778,650 for the 2025 season, according to a Baseball Prospectus report detailing his recent contract extension. This reflects the value of his new one-year contract signed in March 2025 with the St. Louis Cardinals."

I think it is between those 2 figures. 778K would be the equivalent of player minimum wage. It's likely more than that. I'm guessing between one and 2 million.

Even so, that's negligible. BDW didn't save Schildt or Matheny, even though they were in the middle of contracts. Most of all, the big man is clearly thinking about the future, since he's having Molina cosplay as manager. If your boss told you not to come into work next week because he's having a new guy do your job for a day, just to see how it feels, what would you think of your job security?

It is odd that the sports journalists keep throwing water on the idea of firing Marmol, but that could just reflect the current FO's protection of Mo's "legacy" for now.

If BDW does keep him, the only reason is to give fans the finger.

It might be negligible to you and me since it isn't our salary, but real important to Oli. He's likely at the tail end of any serious salary in MLB. I hope he's saved a lot of his 4+ million the past 4 years. After '26, he isn't likely to see much of a baseball paycheck.

Frankly, I don't think JR had much to do with Schildt's firing. That looks purely like a Mo decision. JR was asked to buy in and he did. My guess is that JR will let Chaim decide when it's time for Oli to leave.

Break out the violins for a guy making $4 million the last 4 years by our estimation. How will he ever survive? Well, if he's as good at managing money as he is at managing an MLB team, he may have blown much of it already.

Nah. Break out the violins for those who think it's really important that Oli isn't managing in '26.

I doubt Oli made even half of that salary.

[Hoosier59]

He needs to be gone. How can he not see, for example, that's Svanson is his best relief pitcher and should be closing?

O’Brien was doing really well in a less stressful setup role. His biggest shortcoming is throwing strikes consistently. He has struggled in the closer role throwing them. Put him in the role where he excels the best. Same can pretty much be said about Romero. Svenson has been a closer in the minors and use to that stress. It’s a no brained to me who should pitch in which role!

[An Old Friend]

As long as the decision is Bloom’s and not based on saving money, I support it.

It’s probably in Bloom’s best interest to keep Marmol as a lame duck manager in 2026 while he makes whatever moves he deems necessary to compete in 2027 and beyond. As soon as he puts a new manager in the dugout, expectations change. He can buy a year just riding Oli out and he doesn’t have to ask the DeWitts to eat money

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As long as the decision is Bloom’s and not based on saving money, I support it.

It’s probably in Bloom’s best interest to keep Marmol as a lame duck manager in 2026 while he makes whatever moves he deems necessary to compete in 2027 and beyond. As soon as he puts a new manager in the dugout, expectations change. He can buy a year just riding Oli out and he doesn’t have to ask the DeWitts to eat money

I get what you're saying, but starting out with lower expectations isn't exactly a good look for the new POBO in this town -- especially after Mozeliak's remarks when extending Marmol that he didn't want Oli to feel pressure to win. I think Bloom must be privately realistic, of course, but he also needs to emphasize that winning will be the most important thing every single game every single year. His public stance has to be far different from Mozeliak's from the get-go.

[ecleme22]

As long as the decision is Bloom’s and not based on saving money, I support it.

It’s probably in Bloom’s best interest to keep Marmol as a lame duck manager in 2026 while he makes whatever moves he deems necessary to compete in 2027 and beyond. As soon as he puts a new manager in the dugout, expectations change. He can buy a year just riding Oli out and he doesn’t have to ask the DeWitts to eat money

Really good point.

[ScotchMIrish]

I suspect if Marmol returns it's because Bloom plans to dump and rebuild and would prefer to have Marmol as manager when that happens. Then after the failure Bloom can hire his own man.

[cardsrmyteam]

Ben makes the case for keeping Oli on as manager. My counter to that is in the most important game of his managerial career (Phillies, game 1) he froze at the worst possible moment and the team hasn’t been the same ever since. If the Cards ever make it back to the playoffs worrying about the manager’s ability to navigate the most critical portions of a game is the last thing that should be on our minds. I respect Oli for doing the best he can with a substandard roster from Mo this year but it’s time to move on.

If we keep Oli, this organization is NOT interested in winning.

[rockondlouie]

Saggese hitting clean-up today, yet another example of Oli's brilliant managing.

I commented to my son that Saggese hitting clean up may be the worst clean up hitter in Cards history. I hope Bill is proud.

Has to be, just stupid.