The St. Louis Cardinals have fired Manager Mike Shildt.
In a news release Thursday afternoon, the Cardinals made official what multiple media outlets had been reporting.
Here’s the release from the team:
ST. LOUIS, MO. – October 14, 2021 – The St. Louis Cardinals announced this afternoon that they have agreed to part ways with Manager Mike Shildt.
“While these decisions are difficult, both parties agreed that philosophical differences related to the direction of the organization brought us to this conclusion,” stated Cardinals’ President of Baseball Operations John Mozeliak. ”With just one year remaining on Mike’s contract, it was in everyone’s best interests that we address this now.”
Shildt, 53, was named the Cardinals interim manager on July 15, 2018 and had his interim title removed on August 28, 2018. He spent 13 years (2004-16) in player development as a scout, coach and manager before joining the Cardinals Major League coaching staff in 2017.
In his three-plus seasons as the Cardinals Manager, Shildt posted a 252-199 won-loss record and was voted National League Manager of the Year in 2019 by the BBWAA.
Today’s announcement marks just the third managerial change for the Cardinals dating to 1996, when the team hired Hall of Fame Manager Tony La Russa. Mike Matheny (2012-18) and Shildt (2018-21) have followed La Russa’s 16-year tenure in St. Louis that was capped off with a World Series title in 2011.
Original Story:
Long time St. Louis sports writer Rob Rains and ESPN’s Jeff Passan are among multiple media outlets reporting St. Louis Cardinals Manager Mike Shildt has been fired.
Rains quotes sources as saying Shildt was informed in a phone call from John Mozeliak, the team’s president of baseball operations, that he was being let go after three and a half years as the team’s manager.
Shildt led the Cardinals to the playoff in each of his three full seasons as manager, including an appearance in the National League Wildcard Game this year.
St. Louis Post-Dispatch Beat Writer Derrick Goold reports Shildt was fired due to “philosophical differences” with the organization.