The Cardinals announced that they have hired Brant Brown as their new hitting coach. They also announced the hiring of Jon Jay and a new role for Willie McGee, both of which were reported yesterday. Additionally, they announced that Robert Cerfolio has been hired as assistant general manager, player development and performance. Cerfolio was previously with the Guardians as director of player development. Katie Woo of The Athletic reported on Cerfolio’s hiring earlier today while John Denton of MLB.com identified Brown on X as a leading candidate for the hitting coach job prior to the official announcement.
It’s been well-known for a while now that 2025 is going to be a transitional year for the Cards. President of baseball operations John Mozeliak is going to be giving his job to Chaim Bloom after the upcoming season, with the next year or so serving as a slower-than-usual passing of the torch. The franchise is presumably hoping that this will be a smoother transition than the traditional route of an abrupt firing and/or resignation followed by a hasty search for a replacement.
The club is planning to have a lower payroll and a larger focus on its player development pipeline, so plenty of changes are sure to come throughout the various facets of the club. One of those changes will be the addition of Cerfolio. As noted by Jeff Jones of the Belleville News-Democrat on X, Cerfolio is a Yalie, like Bloom, chairman Bill DeWitt Jr. and president Bill DeWitt III.
But his hiring surely goes beyond just his alma mater. As noted by Woo, Cerfolio was hired by the Guardians in 2015, an organization that is known for having a strong player development pipeline that has allowed it to succeed despite consistently low payrolls. That was something the Cardinals were known for earlier this century, though that reputation has faded recently. A clearly stated goal of this current pivot for the Cardinals is to get back to being that type of organization.
As Mozeliak handles the day-to-day operations of the Cards for the next year and Bloom focuses on that player development apparatus, he has brought Cerfolio aboard to help modernize things for the club. Woo says Bloom is expected to make dozens of hires as part of this process, so Cerfolio is just one piece of the puzzle.
Turning to the coaching staff, it was reported earlier this month that hitting coach Turner Ward would not have his contract renewed for 2025, creating a vacancy that Brown is now filling. Now 53, Brown played in the majors from 1996 to 2000. He then pivoted to coaching, starting with gigs in the minors. He was hired by the Dodgers going into 2018 and was on that club’s staff through 2022, first as assistant hitting coach and then as hitting strategist.
He spent 2023 as the hitting coach of the Marlins then jumped to the Mariners prior to the 2024 season, getting the title of offensive coordinator in Seattle. However, at the end of May 2024, the M’s parted ways with Brown even though he had only been hired in December. Offensive struggles were a key part of the narrative for the Mariners in 2024 and director of hitting strategy Jarret DeHart, who had taken on a larger role when Brown was fired, was also dismissed in August.
It’s always difficult to separate player performance from the contributions of a coach. While the Mariners struggled under Brown’s brief tenure, they also had notable problems the year prior, making it fair to ask if any coach could have made a meaningful difference with the way the roster was constructed. For what it’s worth, the Dodgers performed well during Brown’s time there while his one season in Miami was their only full-season playoff berth in the past 20 years. The club had a subpar 92 wRC+ in 2023 but that was still a bump relative to their 83 in 2022 and 86 in 2024.
Time will tell what kind of club the Cardinals will field in 2025, but it’s generally expected that their planned retooling period could lead to some trades of veterans that aren’t likely to be part of the next competitive window. If that comes to pass, Brown could be tasked with guiding a relatively young roster consisting of players looking to take steps forward at the major league level.
Blackpink in the area
Formerly an offensive coordinator? I guess the special teams guy wasn’t available.
I hope the Cardinals make a lot of moves. I fear they won’t make enough of them. The team could contend in 2025 but if they want to cut payroll and let young guys play I am OK with that. Just don’t do it halfway.
JoeBrady
The halfway thing drives me nuts. That’s the Rockies ploy. And to some extent, my RS as well. Just make an educated guess and move in.
Blackpink in the area
Red Sox going full throttle this year i heard.
The Rockies are finally realizing they need to rebuild it just took them way way too long to figure it out.
Mock 3 way trade
Marlins get
Ivan Herrera
Cardinals get
Marcelo Mayer
Red Sox get
Ryan Helsley
Jojo Romero
Jesus Luzardo
Bender reliever from Marlins
BeshensVisitsDbacks2024
Just teach the Roger Beshens Football Slider and away go problems down the drain.
myaccount2
I think the Marlins might need slightly more to part with Luzardo and Bender but I like the framework of this deal.
Blackpink in the area
Luzardos value is hard to pinpoint because of his health. If the Cardinals had to give up a bit more I would be OK with it.
bangarangbooty
Why would the Cardinals give up their two biggest trade chips in Helsley and Herrera as well as a solid reliever in Romero for a shortstop when SS is the one position that’s set in stone for the foreseeable future with Masyn Winn?
Lanidrac
Herrera could be traded, but the Cardinals aren’t giving up him and their two best remaining MLB relief pitchers just to get a prospect at a position (SS) already covered by one of their best young players.
Blackpink in the area
Because scouts say Mayer is destined for 3b and 3b is a problem long term. Do this deal trade Arenado in July and Mayer steps in.
Blackpink in the area
Mayer will play 3b
Lanidrac
If it’s going to cost them their two best relievers (and a young C), then they’re better off just keeping Arenado and the relievers, especially since they’d have to eat money to trade Arenado anyway. There, 3B is no longer a problem long-term.
Plus, what if they did try to trade Arenado next July and he invokes his no trade clause?
Lanidrac
They never said they were rebuilding, just cutting payroll. So yes, halfway for 2025 is probably the plan, and unlike the Rockies, the Cardinals have enough existing talent to make it work.
Maybe they trade Gray, maybe not, maybe they try but he blocks it with his NTC, but if they do, he’s probably the only veteran trade they make. Arenado’s contract is partially underwater (despite still being a pretty good player), so it would make no sense to trade him anyway, while Contreras is their best hitter and still under contract for 3 more years at a reasonable rate. A Helsley trade would only make sense if they are in fact rebuilding, as even his rising arb salary next year will still easily fit within their relatively lower budget.
Anyway, they’ll likely finish around .500 again next year, maybe contend if things break right, while setting themselves back up to seriously contend again in 2026.
Blackpink in the area
Yes Lanidrac that is what I hope doesn’t happen.
Arenado can be dealt the team can eat money and get something back. Same thing with Contreras. Helsley you trade because he has trade value. Cardinals can sign St Louis native Devin Williams after 2025.
Lanidrac
No, it’s what SHOULD happen, since actually rebuilding doesn’t make sense with all the talent they still have.
Arenado has MUCH more value on the team than wasting money to get rid of him, no matter what you get in return. When you’re trying to be a respectable team while cutting payroll, eating money in a trade is not what you should do. Besides, he and Contreras will still be under contract when they are ready to seriously contend again in 2026 or 2027 at the latest.
You don’t trade players like Helsley just because they have trade value unless you are actually rebuilding, which is NOT what they are doing. They need Helsley to be as good as they can be next year on a lower budget to possibly still compete. Someone like Williams can still be signed if Helsley walks in free agency next year, although singing Helsley to an extension this offseason would be preferable.
Blackpink in the area
Why are we “trying to be respectable”? I don’t see the point in that. Just take 1 year off that’s it. After 2025 go back to trying to win.
I am not sure what they are actually doing. And you aren’t either. What I want to see is a quick full rebuild. Trade away…..
Arenado
Gray
Contreras
Helsley
Romero
King
Donovan
Nootbaar
Another catcher
That’s what I want to see.
eznod
Going outside of the organization,
I like it.
rememberthecoop
Ohhh Noooo!
(Ron Santo)
blues1967
I remember that call ! When Brown was with the Cubs, he dropped a fly ball, that led to a Cub loss. I thought Santo, in the broadcast booth, was going to totally lose it. Happened in ‘96 or ‘97. Right around then,
ac000000
1998
BeshensVisitsDbacks2024
When you hear “pitching development” Pitching lab” “Sweeper” “Gyro” it means very simply. Roger Beshens Football Slider, On center grip, throw like Football, Stiff Wrist.
playhard9
Like the moves but they should still fire Mo & Oli!
Lanidrac
Do you really think anyone else would’ve done much better than what they did to improve the team from 90+ losses last year to a winning record in just one year?
Most of Mozeliak’s moves over the last year worked pretty well given the budget he had.
Meanwhile, in 3 years on the job, Marmol has an overall winning record as manager, and no manager could’ve done much with the 2023 team when most of the pitching collectively collapsed.
letitbelowenstein
Marmol is absolutely horrible.
BeshensVisitsDbacks2024
It’s no secret, teach the Roger Beshens Football Slider and spend the big money on the hitting. Just hire Roger Beshens and your problems are done. Who do you think taught Sonny Gray the slider he throws?
Roger Beshens in Late 2018 taught Sonny Gray. All he had to tell Gray was on center grip, throw like football, Stiff wrist.. Gray stank with the Yankees because he didn’t know it then. If the Cards hire Roger Beshens NOW by Spring Training he will have 10 Sonny Grays.
Roger Beshens was in the Dbacks Clubhouse showing Strom his RB Football Slider and Ryne Nelson became their best pitcher and all this happened with Major internal issues.
McNasty1
Brant who?
Tom the ray fan
Assistant to the general manager?
mlb fan
“Assistant to the general manager”..Chaim Bloom is already assembling his team of executive subordinates.
I do believe the Cards need to have a “larger focus on their player development pipeline”, so I’m fully supportive of these management changes.
I guess we’ll soon see if Bloom is any better at improving the talent level of the Cardinals than Mozeliak’s been the last several years.
CardsFan57
I like the Cerfolio hire. We’ll see about Brown.
msqboxer
Brant Brown former Cub of dropped ball history??
bpskelly
The biggest con the DeWitt’s have been running is it certainly appears the last 5 years they’ve knowingly cut the minor league and development to the bone with hopes that Cardinals Nation wouldn’t notice.
Considering the decline in the product, it’s sorta hard NOT to notice.
It’s mostly just an excuse to stop spending the money they’re spending.
hackinator
Brant Brown coordinated the Mariners offense to last in MLB… so theres that
Logjammer D"Baggagecling
So the Cardinals are purposely getting worse with their hitting coach?
wjf010
swing and a miss…. link is to the wrong Brant Brown
TerryTurnbuckle
Chaim gonna destroy that franchise. They should have extended Mozeliak
Slider_withcheese
They are on their third hitting coach since 2022. I know these guys get recycled like crazy and more often than not are the fall guys, but eventually they may need to blame the talent.
Or lack thereof.