ST. LOUIS—The St. Louis Cardinals hired John Mozeliak as their new general manager Wednesday, promoting him to replace the fired Walt Jocketty.
The 38-year-old Mozeliak had been the Cardinals’ assistant GM for the last five years. He got a three-year contract.
The hiring signified a stay-the-course stance for the Cardinals, coming off a disappointing 78-win season a year after winning the World Series.
Tony La Russa returned as manager for a 13th season with a two-year deal nine days ago and Mozeliak has been with the organization more than a dozen years.
The Cardinals interviewed three other assistant general managers after Jocketty was dismissed on Oct. 3: Chris Antonetti of the Indians, Peter Woodfork of the Diamondbacks and Rick Hahn of the Rockies. Also interviewed was Jon Weil, manager of minor leagues for the Rockies.
While interim GM, Mozeliak picked up an $8 million option on closer Jason Isringhausen, re-signed starter Joel Pineiro to a two-year, $13 million deal, and re-signed reliever Russ Springer to a one-year, $3.5 million deal.
