Embracing organizational ties and intangibles over dugout experience, the Cardinals have hired former Gold Glove catcher Mike Matheny to succeed Tony La Russa as manager.
Matheny, who served as a roving coach within the Cardinals' minor-league system the last two years, will be formally introduced at a news conference this morning at Busch Stadium.
The club did not announce terms of the deal but, according to a source familiar with the process, Matheny received a two-year guarantee with a club option for 2014.
Matheny, 41, played for the franchise in five seasons within a 13-year major league career. He emerged from a field of six candidates composed of former Boston Red Sox manager Terry Francona and Hall of Fame second baseman Ryne Sandberg in addition to Cardinals third base coach Jose Oquendo, Memphis Redbirds manager Chris Maloney and Chicago White Sox coach and former Cardinal Joe McEwing.
Matheny represented the least-experienced candidate within the field but won the job largely because of a reputation for presence and leadership cultivated during and after his time with the franchise. Matheny also served as an analyst for Fox Sports Midwest last season.
A former teammate of Chris Carpenter, Albert Pujols and Yadier Molina, Matheny becomes the major leagues' youngest manager. His ascendancy comes amid a recent flurry of first-time hires that include Kirk Gibson (Arizona Diamondbacks), Ron Roenicke (Milwaukee Brewers) and most recently Robin Ventura (Chicago White Sox). Like Matheny, Ventura possesses no prior managerial experience at any level but carries enormous cachet with the organization. The Brewers and Diamondbacks reached the postseason under their first-year hires.
General manager John Mozeliak apparently notified Matheny of his decision late Saturday before reaching the other five candidates Sunday afternoon. The Cardinals confirmed Matheny's selection within minutes of Mozeliak contacting the last runner-up.
"He'll do as much as he can to be as ready as he can for the season," said Oquendo, who last week voiced a desire to remain in his position should he not be named manager. "I think he'll bring people he knows can help him a lot. He's home. People know him real well and like him. The core guys on the team already know what he's all about."
Almost immediately after interviewing, Matheny had a strong sense that he was a serious candidate for the job, according to several associates. By Friday, many both inside and outside the organization believed it was a matter of when, not if, the club would offer him the manager's chair.
Matheny called his lack of managerial experience "the elephant" that accompanied him into his interview with the Cardinals' four-man committee. But Cardinals chairman Bill DeWitt Jr. and Mozeliak quickly assured him they were placing a premium on leadership, not experience.
"He automatically has respect from the players," said former Cardinal outfielder and longtime Matheny friend Andy Van Slyke. "The only thing he can do from here forward is lose it. But I can't believe that will happen, not as well as we all know Mike. His great strength is who he is as a human being."
Matheny has immersed himself in charitable endeavors since arriving in St. Louis as a player. He founded the Catch 22 Foundation, which constructed a $650,000 Miracle Field in Chesterfield Valley to allow children with physical and mental disabilities to participate in the game. Pujols was among the project's benefactors.
Variety the Children's Charity of St. Louis recognized Matheny in 2010 as "Champion for Kids," an award given annually to a nationally known celebrity for his commitment to children's causes.
It isn't known when Matheny will cement his coaching staff. When Mozeliak contacted Oquendo, he told the long-time Cardinals coach that Matheny would soon be in contact with him.
Mozeliak abstained from making an official comment Sunday night but said via text message that the coaching staff would be addressed at this morning's news conference. DeWitt also did not return a message left Sunday night.
The club concluded its search less than two weeks after La Russa officially announced his retirement three days following the Cardinals' World Series triumph over Texas. However, DeWitt and Mozeliak were able to expedite the process because La Russa had informed them in late August of his strong inclination to retire at season's end. The Red Sox and Chicago Cubs remain in search of managers.
Matheny emerged from his three-hour interview assured that his lack of managerial experience would not work against him. Sources familiar with the process described Matheny's appearance as persuasive and immediately classified him as a front-runner.
A career .239 hitter who appeared in 1,305 major-league games for four teams, Matheny earned four Gold Gloves, including three with the Cardinals. He signed with the San Francisco Giants as a free agent before the 2005 season and had his career cut short by concussion syndrome precipitated by a collision in 2006.
Financial terms of Matheny's contract were not released, though a source familiar with the deal suggested pitching coach Dave Duncan's salary might be higher than Matheny's.
After returning from the Dominican Republic earlier in the weekend, Matheny could not be reached to comment Sunday night.
Mozeliak has expressed a desire the past two years to begin cycling more minor-league personnel onto a major-league staff that remained relatively static under La Russa.
Besides Oquendo, first-base coach Dave McKay and Duncan had publicly expressed a desire to remain with the club regardless of the next manager's identity. Duncan is the only coach from La Russa's staff signed through next season. His contract includes an option for 2013.
Derrick Goold of the Post-Dispatch staff contributed to this report.
