Report: Mark McGwire is candidate for Cardinals manager

The St. Louis Cardinals’ search to replace fired manager Mike Matheny could be leading them back to a familiar face.

Derrick Goold of the St. Louis-Dispatch reported on Monday that former Cardinals slugger Mark McGwire is among the potential candidates for their managerial opening. Goold also says that the retired 12-time All-Star has mused about becoming a manager someday.

McGwire, now 54, currently is a bench coach for the San Diego Padres after sitting on the L.A. Dodgers bench for three seasons prior to that. However, he began his coaching career with the Cardinals, serving as their hitting coach from 2010 to 2012, a stretch that included a World Series title in 2011.

Of course, McGwire also was a legendary Cardinal during his playing career, suiting up for them from 1997 to 2001. Over that span, he made four of his All-Star teams and led the league in home runs three times, including hitting a then-record 70 in an unforgettable 1998 season. While much of that legacy has been tainted by PED use, McGwire was nevertheless inducted into the Cardinals Hall of Fame in 2017.

Goold goes on to add that McGwire is part of a “forward-thinking staff” in San Diego. Despite that and the warm feelings that would surely ensue however, it remains to be seen if Big Mac would be a better option than another big (and much more experienced) name that the Cards supposedly have their eyes on.