Image via Cardinals on Twitter
In a stunning development, the Cardinals announced following an 8-2 loss to the Reds on Saturday that they have fired manager Mike Matheny after roughly six and a half seasons.
The team also parted ways with hitting coach John Mabry and assistant hitting coach Bill Mueller.
Bench coach Mike Schildt was named the Cardinals’ interim manager, and the team has announced a news conference for 11 am CT on Sunday with team chairman Bill DeWitt Jr. and president of baseball operations John Mozeliak.
“Mike Matheny has served the St. Louis Cardinals organization with tremendous dedication and pride, and I am thankful for his service to the Cardinals over the past six and a half seasons,” DeWitt Jr. said in a statement. “On behalf of the entire Cardinals organization, I would like to wish Mike the very best.”
Matheny, 47, hired prior to the 2012 season following Tony La Russa’s retirement, went 591-473 during his tenure with the Cardinals, ranking fifth all-time amongst redbirds managers in wins. The team made the playoffs during Matheny’s first four seasons at the helm before missing the past two postseasons.
Shildt is in his second year as part of the Cardinals’ major-league staff. The 49-year-old managed in the organization’s minor league system for eight seasons, most recently managing the AAA Memphis Redbirds in 2016.
