Manager Mike Matheny has signed a three-year contract extension through the 2020 season, the Cardinals announced on Thursday.
Matheny, 46, has led the Cardinals to a 461-349 record over his five seasons as manager, averaging 92 wins per season, the most wins among all Major League managers since 2012. The Cardinals won three consecutive National League Central Division titles (2013-15), a National League championship in 2013 and made the postseason in four of Matheny’s first five seasons. Matheny’s .569 winning percentage currently ranks 18th all-time in the history of Major League Baseball managers and he stands fifth on the Cardinals’ all-time managerial wins list.
“Mike has continued the Cardinals tradition of winning in his first five years as manager and we are happy to extend his contract leading our club on the field through 2020,” Cardinals principal pwner and CEO Bill DeWitt, Jr. said.
The Cardinals coaching staff has promoted Palm Beach manager Oliver Marmol to the Major League first-base coaching position, while Memphis manager Mike Shildt was promoted to Cardinals’ quality control coach, a uniform position on the Major League staff. Bill Mueller will return to his duties as assistant hitting coach, a position he held in 2015. All of the remaining coaches will return to their positions in 2017 except for assistant hitting coach Derrick May, who will not return. May was added to the staff for 2016 when third-base coach Jose Oquendo had to take a medical leave of absence.
Several transactions were made in the Cardinals’ scouting department. The Cardinals hired Bob Gebhard as a senior special assistant to the general manager. Gebhard was a past member of the Cardinals’ front-office staff from 2000-04 and will be entering his 53rd season working in professional baseball. Jared Odom was promoted to manager of pro scouting, giving baseball operations analyst Tyler Hadzinsky an increased role in amateur scouting.
Matt Bayer received a new title of amateur baseball analyst, increasing his role in scouting players with an emphasis on the department’s new incorporation of video scouting.
