The St. Louis Cardinals upset expectations in 2026 despite missing the postseason. Nevertheless, they are making one coaching change. While manager Oliver Marmol is expected to remain in St. Louis, the Cardinals are reportedly parting ways with hitting coach Brant Brown, Katie Woo of The Athletic reports. Brown served in the role from 2025-2026.

Marmol is under contract through 2028. He is clearly who the Cardinals want to lead the roster amid their rebuild.

St. Louis ended up winning 77 games during the '26 campaign. The Cardinals entered the season in a complete rebuild and some believed they would be among the worst teams in the league. Although the team finished fourth in the National League Central standings, the Cardinals still performed better than expected.

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Overall, the team's offense struggled throughout the season. St. Louis ultimately decided to make a change at hitting coach. If the Cardinals' offense can take a step forward in 2027, the team could emerge as a sneaky contender. They are probably still a few years away from becoming a true World Series threat, but the future for the ball club remains bright.

According to the report, the rest of the coaching staff is expected to look similar to this past season. When it comes to roster building, it will be interesting to see if the Cardinals look to make any big additions this offseason. They are likely not going to trade young talent for stars given their current situation. With that being said, free agency could provide a path to upgrading the roster.