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« Khalil Greene's Future | Main | Octavio Dotel Signs With White Sox »
Yadier Molina Signs Extension With Cards
The Cardinals signed catcher Yadier Molina to a four-year deal today. The 25 year-old defensive whiz hit .275/.340/.368 in '07.
The specifics: the package is worth $15.5MM. The salaries are $1.75MM in '08, $3.25MM in '09, $4.25MM in '10, and $5.25MM in '11. The 2012 option is for $7MM. It's hard (at least for me) to place a dollar value on catcher defense. But we know Molina is very good, and there are signs he could even become a plus with the bat. This seems a decent signing by John Mozeliak.
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Good signing for the Cards. Molina's batting ability is getting better, and his fielding skills are top notch.
Posted by: ThomeTime25 | January 21, 2008 at 12:51 PM
never a bad idea to lock up a good young cather, certainly an above average defensive one. good move
Posted by: 04Forever | January 21, 2008 at 12:51 PM
I may be one of few who says this, but I really like this. Molina is one of, if not the best defensive catchers in baseball today. What he brings to the Cardinals defensively is more important than what he gives offensively. I'm quite happy that the Cardinals plan to continue the trend of defensive whiz's behind the plate. Although he didn't win one this year because of lost playing time to his injury, Molina should win quite a few Gold Gloves in the future. First Tom Pagnozzi, then Mike Matheny, now Yadier Molina. Great signing for a team who wants to get younger in the future and focus more on pitching and defense.
Posted by: mtzxc | January 21, 2008 at 12:53 PM
looks like 15.5M over the 4 years with a 7M club option in 2012.
http://msn.foxsports.com/mlb/story/7703048
Posted by: integr96 | January 21, 2008 at 01:42 PM
I like this signing... Even if they trade him eventually to clear room for Bryan Anderson, the contract should make him even more attractive since he's under contract for awhile.
Posted by: ozziethesaint | January 21, 2008 at 01:43 PM
The guy Pagnozzi replaced was pretty good with the glove too.
Posted by: twinstapir | January 21, 2008 at 03:08 PM
by far Mozeliak's best offseason move. i must admit i intially doubted his ability to make deals and bring in free agents, but he is now solving problems instead of letting them persist or continue.
Posted by: cardsfan05 | January 21, 2008 at 03:58 PM
This situation actually mirrors the braves scenerio from last year. Brian Mccann signed a 6 year-29 million dollar deal after the 06 offseason, but we had a good you catching prospect in salty. I think the cards situation is going to wind up like the braves did. Since the cards extended molina, for someone so young, that means his liklihood in getting traded just went way down. I think the cards will use anderson as a piece to get some more pitching midseason or next offseason, as good young catchers are still a valuable commodity. My main point is now that molina is in place through 2011, he is not going to be traded, anderson is much more likely to go.
Posted by: bravesbeast | January 21, 2008 at 04:11 PM
I'd disagree Braves, First off neither catcher will be traded yet unless the Cards are blown away by an offer. Anderson will spend the entire season in AAA. Because of how young he is, they still have at least one more season after this before they have to protect him on the 40 man roster. So they don't need to force the issue until mid 2009, or 2010, by then Molina is going to be just as likely to be dealt as Anderson if Anderson continues to develop his bat. Molina's advantage on D doesn't come close to closing the gap on Anderson's potential bat.
Posted by: ozziethesaint | January 21, 2008 at 06:08 PM
However, the cards can switch anderson to another position by the time he is ready for the major leagues... or they could stand pat. The cards, along with any other major leaghe team, are very unlikely to give a young player such as molina an extension if they plan on trading him, even less so in the case that molina remains a bargain. Since the cards have a young catcher in place, the value of anderson to the cards is either as trade bait as a good young catcher with good offensive potential, or as an upgrade over another player at another position when anderson is ML ready. But as of right now, I think that the cards best move would be to try and get another young arm who could develop a nice 1 to 2 punch with wainwright over the next 5 years or so.
Posted by: bravesbeast | January 21, 2008 at 06:38 PM
Anderson has a very good chance to develop into a poor man's Joe Mauer... He will be too good to let go in favor of Molina. And honestly having seen Anderson play, he's not moving to another position. He doesn't have quick enough feet to play 3b, nor enough range to go to the OF and he's not supplanting AP at 1b. Molina was signed for the extension in order to avoid Arbo while Anderson continues his development. He just turned 21 and only has 250 pro games under his belt. The Cards did the smart financial thing and kept Yady out of Arbo until Anderson's development forces their hand.
Posted by: ozziethesaint | January 21, 2008 at 09:25 PM
I love this move.
Although Anderson has nice offensive potential, his defense can never be Molina's caliber. Even if he continues to develop, he won't have an arm like Yadier.
Now that Molina is locked up, trading Anderson in the future seems like a no-brainer. You have to give up talent to get talent.
Posted by: mikeonthecards | January 21, 2008 at 09:34 PM
I think its obvious that the Cards value defense over offense. Yadi is the catcher of the future, like it or not Cards fans. Anderson will never get his chance with them. They will let him build value (they are praying) this year and use him in a package next year at this time, or maybe even at the break if by some miracle they are contending this year.
Posted by: Aduncaroo | January 21, 2008 at 10:15 PM
Yes, and you also just do not move proven success at the major league level, as you have in yadi, for another piece with potential, as in anderson, even if that potential success that anderson may be better than yadi. And as you said yourself, since anderson is not playing anywhere else, he will most likely be playing catcher for someone else. Let someone else take the chance that anderson develops into an all star at catcher... and you take a bounty in return for anderson that will help you in another position where u need young proven talent like you already have in yadi.
Posted by: bravesbeast | January 21, 2008 at 11:43 PM