The Cardinals have announced new deals for three key members of their leadership, as Derrick Goold of the St. Louis Post-Dispatch covers (links to Twitter). President of baseball operations John Mozeliak gets three new years, while top lieutenant and GM Mike Girsch receives two more on top of his 2020 deal.
There’s continuity as well in the dugout. Skipper Mike Schildt will receive a new three-year arrangement that keeps him at the helm through 2022. His entire coaching staff will also be returning.
Last we checked on the contract status of Mozeliak and Girsch, they had reached new deals with the club that aligned with promotions in the middle of the 2017 season. Both reportedly signed on through 2020. It seems they’ll both remain on the same track, through the ’22 campaign, though the word out of the presser was a bit confusing on that front.
As for Shildt, he had already inked a deal upon being named the permanent manager in August of 2018. He’ll now also be bumped out through the 2022 season.
This news comes on the heels of a strong 2019 campaign in which the Cards returned to the postseason by hanging on in a tight NL Central. Despite suffering a sweep in the NLCS, the campaign was unquestionably a success. The organization will face a difficult task to repeat but certainly has a roster that remains set up to contend.
Oh wow. Owners must be pretty confident in these guys’ abilities. I’m kinda surprised with Shildt’s extension. Not saying he hasn’t been great, cause he has done pretty well, but that means he’s got a five-year deal
No, it means he has a 3 year deal. The new deal wipes out the old one.
Yeah I read that wrong, my bad lol
I am not a Mozeliak fan by any means. But, I am a Girsch and Schildt fan!! I guess if the Owners aren’t upset by the financially bind Mozeliak has them currently in because of bad contracts, then I’m not. I just don’t want to hear “we just can’t afford a player like Rendon”. If they aren’t upset with the past bad contracts, one more with Rendon shouldn’t matter either.
Mozeliak must have some really good blackmail evidence, because he’s been mostly worthless since Luhnow left the organization….
Moz has been at the helm for 12 years, and has never posted a sub .500 season, has made the playoffs more often than not, won a World Series, won the pennant twice, and been in the NLCS 5 out of his 12 seasons.
And people think he’s a bad GM why exactly? Because of a few bad deals over 12 years?
People are clueless.
You do realize Mo was Lunhow’s boss, not the other way around?
You do realize Mo built championship teams without needing to rebuild?
You do realize that 2/3rds of the position player WAR on Astro’s since 2015 were by players Lunhow had no part in drafting?
You do know that Lunhow drafted the immortal Mark Appel 1-1 over Bryant?
Lunhow has done a solid job in Houston outside of trading for wife beaters and hiring douche bags as assistant GM’s. Lunhow is just as lucky as he is good.. Ask Theo what happens when draft picks and FA signings dont work out…
Yeah since being the GM 3 exec of the year award, 1 WS, 5 playoff appearances, 2 NL pennants and the list goes on yeah we should have got rid of him.
Cue the anti Mo comments.
Cue Cards81 with the FO-loving feedback.
Cue impending arguing, crying and destruction. “BFIB”
Once the city has been put to rubble, cue Themed for multiple, incoherent stupid comments. “WCIMTR”
Yes!…Clepto I’ve been waiting for you to mention me again…if people don’t know clepto is my biggest fan..he always comes on MLBtraderumors and tells me how I don’t know anything…here is the catch though…as you can see already, he doesn’t have an opinion..he just acts like an internet tough guy…glad you are back clepto
Lol u mad bro
You have to have a coherent thought to have an opinion.
I long for the days of civil discourse. Believe it or not, that used to happen here.
Certain fanbases are more radicalized, specifically, the BFIB. Please note use of the word “radicalized” vs intelligent.
If you dont agree with their opinion, they are emboldened by their self-proclaimed BFIB moniker and feel the need to hammer you. Since there are actually are differing opinions amongst the BFIB, civil unrest ensues.
Sit back, with a can of lighter fluid and watch it melt down.
O come on, every single fan base has people that get on internet comment boards and go off the rails. To say that one has more than others is an impossible thing to quantify and is a pretty dumb hill to die on. Get on any boards of any team and you see the same senseless trolls both for and against the team.
When it comes to the Yankees, the Red Sox hate is the worst. It’s like 10 to 1 worse than the Yankees dislike of the Sox. I grew up with Sox fans. When it comes to the Yankees, a Sox fan at 40 is emotionally and intellectually little different from what they were as an 11 year old.
I don’t understand why you would extend Mozeliak. The moves he has made the last couple of years have been somewhat desperation decisions and today this organization is hamstrung payroll wise because of him. Seems like he’s been rewarded for attendance as opposed to the performance of the team.
The team was literally in the NLCS this year, and you think his extensions isn’t related to the success of the team?
Think about this, the best move he did made is the one he did not have to made. You can say Thank you Angels for signing Pujols and his demands of $30 million per year.
It’s simple. Just check winning records over the same time period.
Because he is a damn good executive look at his past plus he has done a heck of a lot of things to make going to the ball park great baseball village comes to mind and he keeps payroll reasonable without going crazy and keeps the minors stocked.
Does Motie write fragmented,run on drivel like you?
They are DENSE. They are just trying to keep them just to save their team and make it to playoffs, but we all know what they really are.
Moz has been at the helm for 12 years, and has never posted a sub .500 season, has made the playoffs more often than not, won a World Series, won the pennant twice, and been in the NLCS 5 out of his 12 seasons.
And people think he’s a bad GM why exactly? Because of a few bad deals over 12 years?
They have the second most regular season and playoff wins since he took over as well.
Kind of hard to think he doesn’t deserve this extension after another NLCS appearance.
People who hate on him don’t like his pragmatic, and common sense approach, and would rather he go for broke in an effort to win a World Series, at the expense of the future. And that is simply the way you force your team to have to rebuild.
Jfactor…be careful before they call you a sheep… who cares what the empirical evidence suggest….you are a sheep…they made it to the NLCS but of course people will say he is a bad GM
I went to Busch in May to watch the Phillies battle the Cards. Back then, I figured they were going to finish near the basement of the NL Central The way the made a push after the ASB was impressive. I really didn’t think they had a chance to make the playoffs. Welp, I was wrong. From the way they started the season, Cards fans should call it a win.
Agree with you here. The Cards are trying to put a winning product on the field as opposed to going for broke on a single season and packing it in for the following 10. Sadly, in this age of instant gratification, that approach is not poplar.
Depends on the team. Some teams are in win now position. Others are in rebuild mode. Others are in-between. My sense is that most teams know where they are and are acting accordingly. With a few exceptions here and there.
Nooooooooooooooooooooooo Mo must go!
Horrible! It’s going to be a long next few years for Cardinals fans! This inbred Cardinals Ownership is like having old money in a small town. The Cardinals organization will not truly thrive on all cylinders until Bill Dewitt is no longer principal Owner!
You must be new to this baseball stuff. He’s put the Cards in a position a lot of teams wish they were in. You don’t represent the Cardinal’s fan base at all. You need to appreciate all he’s done positive. Maybe go join some spoiled fans from another team.
Mozeliak, Girsch and Shildt are all “Yes Men”, and that’s precisely why they got their extensions. Now watch them unnecessarily re-sign Marcell Ozuna to a 100+ million contract! Bill Dewitt is like the Uncle from ‘Duck Tales’, and fans should run him out of St. Louis on a rail!
@starbirds17
Wait. How many rings dso the Cardinals have? To my recollection, there are 28 other teams that would love to have 75% of them.
Organizations try to model the Cardinals ways of success. Imitation is the best form of flattery. Stop the hate.
Snooooze. Sell seats. Continue to see 70% actually be used. Compete but not win. Welcome to Cardinal baseball.
You must be new to this baseball stuff. He’s put the Cards in a position a lot of teams wish they were in. You don’t represent the Cardinal’s fan base at all. You need to appreciate all he’s done positive. Maybe go join some spoiled fans from another team.
CFAP is a novice
Yes. I’M A COMPLETE NOVICE NEW TO THIS THING CALLED, BASEBALL. Not sure how I survived playing and working in it for many years?
I didn’t realize that playing fantasy baseball and working at the concession stand made you an expert. Thanks for the enlightenment!
Quality jab!!!
[UPVOTE] x3
Jumping Jackwagon Batman! You guessed correctly. How clever of you. Did Randy and Ronge give you that ever so funny 5th grade zinger? Way to go, Potsie!
To be fair, what he wrote was much funnier than your attempt at a retort.
I didn’t know making it to the NLCS was not winning…color me confused on that one
You try to deny it, but no one believes you know anything. Everyone thinks you’re just trying to impress someone. It’s not working, the opposite actually.
I wasn’t trying to be funny. I was proving a point that HE WASN’T.
You failed miserably.
I think your momma, daddy and some teachers said those same words to you in life.
No need to project your inadequacies onto me.
I think Girsch probably uses a playskool laptop
Good move on all accounts, having a consistent front office is key to a successful team. Some do not like the Bowtie guy, but I do. Keeping a franchise out of the $$ red and still being competitive is harder than a lot of arm chair fans think it is.
Drink some of the Kool-Aid, it’s refreshing!!!
Why thank you, it actually is very refreshing.
I doubt you’ve bought a ticket to go to Busch. If you don’t, then you don’t have the right to complain. Especially considering you don’t understand baseball.
So now if you don’t buy overpriced tickets to a 3 plus hour snoozefest, you can’t comment about the team? You, my little lady friend, have to be the best fan Dewitt could ever dream of having.
I love the Kool-aid comment…serious question to all people bashing MO…Name the GM’s/presidents that have had more success than MO?
Seriously? Off the top of my head, Luhnow, Cashman, Dombrowski, and Epstein.
I said more success…how have they had more success? And I’m not saying there isn’t a GM who hasn’t had more success…this isn’t your opinion on who is a better GM/President…I need evidence
Dombrowski? Guy has a losing record overall as a GM and put the Red Sox in luxury cap doom.
For instance although I am sure a lot of people would say that Luhnow is a better GM…that’s fine…but he hasn’t had more success…and that could be because he hasn’t had time to prove so but it still doesn’t mean he has had more success…you could argue Epstein but really he ran the Red Sox into the ground and is about to do the same with the cubs…sure he won 2 WS with cursed teams but is he overall more successful than Mo?
They have not had more success. Small minds look at instant gratification. They are incapable of seeing the entire picture. Sure the cards could tank for years and get so many early pucs.
Found Mo’s burner account ☝️
Girsch has a couple more years to run to Office Depot and supplies for the office, and, get Mo’s Starbucks in the morning.
Not really happy about Mo getting extended
I still think Mo was aware of what was going on with Correa and the hacking disaster and got by untouched. Reminds me of Caddyshack when Bill Murray and the priest were on the green and the priest got struck by lightening, Murray just set the bag down and slipped away.
I too get frustrated with MO and his sometimes head scratching decisions.. He is the President of baseball ops which means in charge of all things Cardinal baseball.. in this regard he is well above avg and consistently competitive. The minor leagues are never depleted and he has a knack for churning out top flight pitching.. He could use some help with identifying offensive talent but in the end it could be so much worse
Dylan Carlson and Tommy Edman weren’t supposed to be worth much and look what they have turned into? He gets unfairly criticized for this because they pretty much never have draft picks in the top 20 and consistently spend the top picks they DO have on pitching. You only have so many picks and they like to draft pitching, hence the pitching success.
They made a conscience decision to prioritize pitching for a long time and the offense shows it. Based on the last drafts though, they are starting to balance that out a little more, so I would not be surprised at all for the minor-league offensive outlook to really start improving in the future.
Yeah I hear that.. I was thinking more along the lines of trading Pham and Mercado thinking Bader was the right choice. He also has missed terribly outside of a select few players when drafting offense.. such as wasting two first rd picks on Nick Plummer and Delvin Perez. Everyone gets lucky sometimes but he is just flat out wrong too often with offensive players
Ya I see that. I just think it’s easier to see his failures because he has less chances to get it right when he’s making less top offensive choices than the standard GM. I think this recent test with their dramatic offensive struggles late in the year will be a good indicator on if he’s able to course-correct.
Yeah, to be fair, I believe he just didnt like Pham and his non-Cardinal ways and there is a ton of tools in Baders belt. Its just a bad look!
The Cardinals got Conner Capel and Jhon Torres back for Mercado.
Torres started the 2019 season as the Cardinals 6th best prospect at age 18. The Indians did not part with him happily. Torres has the potential to be an exceptional all-around OF. While Mercado is a great prospect (and older), most professional evaporators consider Torres potential ceiling to be far higher then Mercado’s. Cardinals took a risk as they already had young OF’s on the roster. Let’s see how it plays out.
Yes, they did do well seemingly in the return but Capel is nothing more than taking a shot.. (cause he is left handed) and he doesnt have a great hit tool. Torres, while he loooks the part, is nothing more than projection at this stage and is yrs away.. Mercado was also once on the board of prosects.. those rankings are nothing more than arbitrary guesses when comparing players with there peers.. nobody has a crystal ball but for my money I would much rather have Pham or Mercado on the 19 roster than Bader. Especially considering they were going for it harder this season. It seems they simply did not put the best product on the field when it was on there fingertips
I just wish they would get the outfield secured with players that are good enough to play every day and perform. Grichuk kept getting sent down, Bader, O’neill sent down, who knows if this Lane and Carlson will make it and stay.
Ah yes! Not sure who is to blame but they just won’t let kids play when high paid players are ahead of them. Oneill is no different than Schwarber or Hoskins.. he is even faster and more athletic than both.. difference is they get a chance to play. Bernie said ” Carlson got promoted to AAA, great, now he is one step closer to riding the bench in STL” So true!
I get that this is a reward for getting back to the postseason but it feels like it’s more of a bonus for working with what you’ve got and doing nothing at the deadline.
I get that they only had a limited window because both the gm and vp ops only had one year on their deals left and it might look bad if you just leave em hanging into the season. My biggest concern is that these deals and Adam Wainwright will be only moves made this off season.
No one has ever made perfect moves in MLB or anywhere else in this life. But some make adjustments to overcome mistakes; some continue to do the same things; and most take on no responsibility at all and just complain about what others do.
The Cardinals administer and play the sort of fundamental baseball Branch Rickey taught and expected. There is logic to the things they do. No team has had a lower percentage of below-.500 seasons in the last 60 years. The moves they do make sense, even if they don’t pan out initially.
I call out FO’s here – lately the Phillies and Padres. The types that go in one direction, zig zag into a few others, claim they need more time and always blame their lack of progress on something. Doesn’t really bother me – always have been franchises run like that in MLB. But when the media jumps on and grants them breaks that they don’t give other FO’s that are staying the course, I’ll continue to call those people out.
The Cardinals had to restructure their team after what it became under Mike Matheny. Can’t turn that on a dime. Mike Shildt did yeoman work in first gaining the trust of players that had been unfairly blamed for doing poorly when they were used incorrectly – Wong and Fowler to start. The pitching was a total mess at the beginning of the year, even though the talent was obvious. Shildt and pitching coach Mike Maddux had to stabilize the staff, beginning with the bullpen and John Gant. Slowly others followed and got their rhythm. Position players had to be replaced half-way through games in matchup’s as so many were good at some things but bad at others. Like a jockey, Shildt had that team running at full speed from mid-August until the finish line. The petty grievances in the locker room that had festered for years gave way to all uniformed personnel pulling for one another.
Cardinals need to build on 2019. Straighten out the OF for 2020. Bring up a few more young arms. Suspect they will.
Shildt has risen pretty high in my regards and he his outspokeness is a breath of fresh air having to hear MM’s monotone replys that always sounded the same each night. my only concern is he almost puts too much faith in the starters. down the stretch and in the playoffs i remember seeing 100+ pitches in hectic situations with AW or JF still on the mound. I hope he can lean back from those situations a bit next year and stay crafty with our pen. of course our front office will deem our demise in 4 games over the nationals a “success” and i doubt we make any attempt to add offense bc this exact team next year will struggle to win 88 games with no help.
Looks I’ll be 3 more years removed & that much more distant from the organization I grew up adoring.
Apathy is setting in quickly…..
Wow 3 more years of 12 infielders playing every position and no stability. Great Great News for the rest of the Central Division.
Ya, I am sure the rest of the division was just ecstatic over the Cardinals winning the Central. Positional flexibility sure was a terrible strategy for them…
As a Pirates fan, I don’t get how some of you Cards fans get upset over this. Cards have been at the top of the division for 20 plus years. 12 with the current GM. I look forward to someone knocking the Cards off the division, but respect the organization for the continuous winning they do. If it wasn’t for St Louis Cardinals, the NL Central would look like the AL Central. One team holding the division while the others rebuild to hopefully hold the division. The AL Central hasn’t had a team like the Cards who is a threat to win it each year for the last 20 plus years. I wish the Pirates ownership and front office was as good as Cards.
Thank you…some people just aren’t humbled…and if this means anything I do hope the pirates find the person to turn it around…the ballpark is to beautiful to be wasted
Good stuff! I bet most of us would believe our opinions are objective as possible but this is the type of opinion I would love to give to another teams fans! This paragraph perfectly sums up how this type of success can be taken for granted!
Let me get this straight, They signed Bobby Grich, Mike Schmidt and Mike Moustakas
many times it’s been said on here the mo doesn’t play, so don’t blame him. yet those same commentators give him credit for what the players accomplish. can’t have it both ways.