The Cardinals completed their overhaul of the coaching staff on Thursday by making a rare move, hiring from outside the organization to fill the pitching-coach vacancy.
That job goes to Mike Maddux, who has previously been pitching coach for the Brewers (2003-08), Rangers (2009-15) and Nationals (2016-17). Rounding out manager Mike Matheny's staff will be Bryan Eversgerd, who was promoted to bullpen coach after serving as a pitching coach in the Cardinals' organization for 15 seasons.
"We are very excited to welcome Mike to the Cardinals organization," president of baseball operations John Mozeliak said. "We also look forward to giving Bryan Eversgerd a well-deserved opportunity on our Major League staff."
Mozeliak declined to elaborate further on either hire Thursday, stating that he'd prefer to do so following the conclusion of the World Series. In the past week, he has announced the additions of Maddux, Eversgerd, Jose Oquendo (third-base coach) and Willie McGee (coach) to the staff. Mike Shildt was also repositioned to bench coach.
When the Cardinals dismissed pitching coach Derek Lilliquist a day after their season ended, they did not know that Maddux, 56, would become available to interview. Circumstances changed in Washington, however, when the Nationals dismissed manager Dusty Baker following their abbreviated playoff run. Maddux's contract with the Nationals was not renewed due to the staff situation being in flux.
During Maddux's two years in D.C., the Nationals ranked fourth in the Majors in team ERA with a 3.70 mark and won back-to-back National League East titles. St. Louis native Max Scherzer won a Cy Young Award under Maddux's watch and may be adding another to his collection next month.
In 2017, three of Maddux's pitchers -- Scherzer, Stephen Strasburg and Giovany Gonzalez -- occupied three of the top four positions on the NL ERA leaderboard. During his stint with the Rangers, Maddux oversaw a pitching staff that posted the top four season strikeout totals in franchise history.
Prior to moving into a coaching role, Maddux, the older brother of Hall of Fame pitcher Greg Maddux, pitched 15 years in the Majors with nine organizations.
Before he started interviewing candidates for the open position, Mozeliak stressed that he was seeking a pitching coach willing to utilize advanced metrics, as well as the ability to "understand modern strategy, modern analytics and how we can leverage that to optimize our staff."
The intent was to bring in someone who could have a louder voice alongside Matheny, who will be returning for his seventh season as manager. Maddux's experience and coaching resume offers that sort of instant credibility.
Eversgerd, 48, has worked closely with all the pitchers who have climbed through the organization en route to St. Louis. He spent the past five seasons as pitching coach for Triple-A Memphis following stints with Double-A Springfield (2008-09, '11-12) and several Class A affiliates.