Oliver Marmol won’t start the 2024 season as a manager with uncertain job security. Instead, he secured a two-year contract extension with the St. Louis Cardinals, ensuring his tenure with the team until 2026.
This agreement was swiftly reached after a meeting on Thursday night between Marmol, chairman Bill DeWitt Jr., and president of baseball operations John Mozeliak. The announcement of the extension was made on Friday, accompanied by a news conference.
We have signed Manager Oliver Marmol to a two-year contract extension through the 2026 season.#ForTheLou pic.twitter.com/80ejG854bo
— St. Louis Cardinals (@Cardinals) March 15, 2024
At 37 years old, Oliver Marmol, the youngest manager in Major League Baseball, assumed the role following the departures of previous managers Mike Shildt and Mike Matheny. Marmol had previously served as a coach on the St. Louis Cardinals’ staff from 2017 to 2021, rising from first-base coach to bench coach in 2019 before being appointed manager ahead of the 2022 season.
Having been part of the organization since being drafted in the sixth round of the 2007 MLB Draft, Marmol began his coaching career with St. Louis in 2011 as a hitting coach at the Rookie level.
In his inaugural season as manager, the Cardinals clinched the National League Central with a 93-69 record and made it to the postseason. Despite this success, they were defeated in the wild-card series by the Philadelphia Phillies, who eventually represented the NL in the 2022 World Series.
The following year, however, the Cardinals finished last in the NL Central with a record of 71-91, marking their fewest wins in a 162-game season since 1990, when they went 70-92.
With a record of 164-160 in his first two seasons, Marmol admitted before the extension that he felt he was coaching for his job heading into the 2024 season.
Report: Davis, Athletics agree to one-year, $2.5M contract
Following his time with the San Francisco Giants, J.D. Davis is set to make a move across the Bay.
According to a report from FanSided’s Robert Murray on Friday, citing sources familiar with the agreement, the Athletics have reached a one-year contract with Davis, pending a physical.
Free-agent infielder J.D. Davis and the Oakland A’s are in agreement on a contract, pending physical, according to sources familiar with the deal.
— Robert Murray (@ByRobertMurray) March 15, 2024
According to a report from The Athletic’s Ken Rosenthal on Friday, Davis’ deal with Oakland is for one year and worth $2.5 million, with an additional $1 million available in incentives.
Free agent J.D. Davis in agreement with A’s on one-year, $2.5M contract with $1M in incentives. Will play third base. First with agreement: @ByRobertMurray
— Ken Rosenthal (@Ken_Rosenthal) March 15, 2024
The 30-year-old is slated to take on the role of third baseman for the A’s, who are seeking to bounce back from a challenging 2023 season, where they ended with the poorest record in baseball at 50-112.
Davis boasts a seven-year tenure in the MLB, having previously played for the Houston Astros, New York Mets, and most recently, the Giants.
Following San Francisco’s acquisition of former A’s third baseman Matt Chapman, Davis found himself on the outs, leading to his placement on waivers by the Giants last weekend and his subsequent release on Monday.
This created an opportunity for Oakland to bring in Davis, providing an immediate offensive boost. In his most recent season with the Giants, he recorded 18 home runs and 69 RBIs in 118 games.
Now, Davis stands to offer a veteran presence to an A’s roster abundant with promising yet youthful players, all eager to reverse the franchise’s recent downturn in fortunes.
