The Cardinals are signing Jon Jay to an undisclosed coaching role, as first reported by Katie Woo of the Athletic. Woo also reports that assistant coach Willie McGee has resigned from the staff and will assume an advisory role in the front office.

Jay returns to the organization where he spent the majority of his playing career. The former outfielder spent six seasons with the Cards, appearing in 757 games between 2010 and 2015. Jay hit .287/.354/.384 during that stretch and was a key contributor on the 2011 World Series team. After leaving St. Louis, he went into journeyman mode, playing for six teams before retiring in 2022 went.

Jay is a Miami native and a product of the University of Miami. He began his coaching career with the Marlins in the 2022-23 offseason. He joined his former teammate Skip Schumaker's team with his hometown team. Jay was Miami's first base coach for two seasons but was fired after Schumaker left the organization last month. El Extrabase's Daniel Álvarez-Montes tweeted that the Marlins were interested in keeping Jay, but the 39-year-old apparently preferred to look elsewhere rather than wait out Miami's latest managerial hiring process.

Jay will not work as a base coach in St. Louis. Woo reports that first base coach Stubby Clapp and third base coach Pop Warner will return to Oli Marmol's staff. Bench coach Daniel Descalso, pitching coach Dusty Blake and assistant hitting coach Brandon Allen are also expected back, she wrote. St. Louis said goodbye to coach Turner Ward a few weeks ago. This position is still vacant, although it is not clear whether Jay will take on the role.

McGee, 65, held the nebulous title of assistant coach on St. Louis' staff. The 1985 NL MVP has been coaching since the start of the 2018 season. He previously worked as a special assistant in the front office and coached both MLB and minor league defensive outfielders. McGee is a member of the organization's Hall of Fame.