The St. Louis Cardinals have made at least two changes within their major-league coaching staff, multiple league sources told The Athletic on Monday. Former Cardinal and 2011 World Series champion Jon Jay will join Oli Marmol’s staff, while long-time coach and Cardinal Hall of Famer Willie McGee will step down from coaching and join the front office in an advisory role.
The changes come shortly after the Cardinals opted not to renew hitting coach Turner Ward’s contract.
Jay, 39, spent the first six years of his 12-year playing career with St. Louis, where he played an integral role on the 2011 World Series team and 2013 National League championship team. He spent the last two seasons as the first base coach for the Miami Marlins under former Cardinal Skip Schumaker. The Marlins let go of over 70 employees at the end of the regular season, making both Jay and Schumaker free agents.
Jay will follow in the footsteps of former teammate Daniel Descalso, who joined Marmol’s staff as the bench coach ahead of the 2024 season. Descalso, along with pitching coach Dusty Blake, first base coach Stubby Clapp and third base coach Pop Warner will all return in 2025. Assistant hitting coach Brandon Allen will also return, despite Ward’s ousting.
McGee, 65, made the choice to step down from his role as assistant coach at the end of the season. He had spent the last seven seasons on the major-league staff, but will now serve in a role similar to what he did previously before coaching. McGee will be a special assistant to president of baseball operations John Mozeliak, and will assist with instruction in both the major and minor leagues, including spring training.
The Cardinals are expected to make additional hires in the coming weeks, including a new hitting coach. St. Louis is also closing in on naming a new assistant general manager, who will oversee a major revamping of player development in the minors. The Cardinals could also hire a new farm director; it is unclear if the organization would prefer to keep the two jobs separate or combine the roles into one position.
(Photo of Jon Jay: Ron Chenoy / Imagn Images)
