Cardinals, Jocketty mutually agree to part ways

It’s unclear how his departure will affect the status of
manager Tony La Russa.

ST. LOUIS (AP) — Walt Jocketty is out after 13 seasons as general manager of the St. Louis Cardinals, one year after the team won the World Series for the first time since 1982.

Team president Mark Lamping said Jocketty’s departure with a year remaining on his contract was a mutual decision, and that he’d be paid. Team chief executive officer Bill DeWitt Jr. said Jocketty and the Cardinals had “cordially and respectfully parted ways.”

“We were in agreement our arrangement had likely run its course,” DeWitt said.

It’s unclear how Jocketty’s departure affects the status of manager Tony La Russa, whose contract expired after the season. Jocketty hired La Russa in 1996.

DeWitt spoke with La Russa on Wednesday, reaffirming the franchise’s commitment to building a competitor after injuries and ill-advised moves led to a 78-win team that collapsed in the final month.

“I think he’ll make a decision in the reasonably near future,” DeWitt said.

Unhappy recently

Jocketty oversaw the team make seven postseason appearances, one of the best stretches in franchise history. But he’s been unhappy since Jeff Luhnow was promoted to vice president of amateur scouting and player development late last season, placing him in charge of the draft and supervision of the farm system. Luhnow is not a candidate to replace Jocketty because he already has enough responsibility, DeWitt said.

Previously, Jocketty had authority over those areas. DeWitt said the rift began on philosophical terms, growing into personality conflicts.

“I think we had a little different philosophy and vision with respect to some baseball issues,” DeWitt said. “There was clearly tension. We couldn’t achieve our goals given what was going on.”

DeWitt said he didn’t believe Jocketty and La Russa were a “package deal.” DeWitt noted that La Russa asked him to seek a candidate with Jocketty’s qualities when hiring a new general manager.

La Russa said on Monday that he wants to continue managing, but wasn’t certain if he wanted to remain in St. Louis.

“It was a good conversation,” DeWitt said.

“We didn’t get into his opinion, who we should hire or if we should have kept (Jocketty).”

Neither Jocketty nor La Russa immediately returned telephone messages from the AP.