St. Louis Cardinals fire manager Mike Shildt

In a stunning move made eight days after the conclusion of their season, the St. Louis Cardinals dismissed manager Mike Shildt on Thursday, ESPN baseball writer Jeff Passan reported.

Two sources with the team confirmed the report to the Belleville News-Democrat.

Shildt, 53, managed the club for parts of four seasons to a 252-199 record. The Cardinals made the playoffs in each of his three full seasons as manager and were 41-28 in the period following his taking over from Mike Matheny during the 2018 season.

He was also the 2019 National League Manager of the Year and was viewed as likely to receive votes this year as well following the club’s record 17-game winning streak which propelled them to the postseason.

“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 joined the Cardinals organization as a scout and part-time coach in 2004 and has been employed by the club since, including eight years as a minor league manager.

This story was originally published October 14, 2021 at 1:50 PM.