Report: Mike Matheny Emerges As Top Candidate For Cardinals' Manager Position

Former MLB catcher Mike Matheny has emerged as the front-runner to be the next St. Louis Cardinals manager, according to Ken Rosenthal of Fox Sports.

Sources have told Rosenthal that Matheny, a former Cardinals catcher, has emerged as a leading possibility to fill the vacancy created by the retirement of long-time St. Louis Skipper Tony La Russa. La Russa made the decision to walk away from the game after the Cardinals won their 11th World Series trophy in October.

Matheny, 41, played for the Cardinals from 2000-2004 and reportedly still has close ties with several players and coaches on the team. While he has no managerial experience, he has served as an advisor to the Cardinals organization in the past, and was considered one of the better leaders in the game during his playing days.