Email a copy of 'Extension Candidate: Yadier Molina' to a friend
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By Mark Polishuk | at
Email a copy of 'Extension Candidate: Yadier Molina' to a friend
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Cards fail to sign Molina in the off season and acquire JP Arencibia (since they Jays have no use for him once D’Arnaud is ready)
Calling it now.
cards2WS
Molina signs for 4/45 with a club option.
Calling it now.
California_RedBirds
Lock him up Mo. There’s no excuse not to especially since a bunch of money is coming off the books.
cano24
Yankee candidate. 🙂
cards2WS
I’ll be very disappointed if they don’t sign him back. There is no one capable of starting for us in the minors. It will be a disaster if he leaves.
Nicholas Blickhan
4yrs/$37-40M with mutual option for 5th yr?
Those knees aren’t gonna last if he keeps catching so many innings per yr
jamesa-2
Unless Molina is dead-set on remaining a Cardinal first, and on money as a later consideration, it would be surprising if he signs for less than $10 MM (AAV). I think, however, it is the years that will be the selling point in any eventual deal.
Adam Moreira
I expect that this extension will get done—but not in the Joe Mauer or Jorge Posada range—probably somewhere in the 5 year-$45M-$50M range. Joe Mauer got what he did because he is a hometown player drafted by and playing for his hometown team.
Having said that, Molina is approaching 30 (he turns 30 on July 13) and it has to be wondered if he will move to first base at some point during his next contract.
NickinIthaca
I can’t see any team wasting that arm at first base…
jhfdssdaf
I can’t see any team wasting first base on that bat.
He hits for average, little or no power. His bat plays well at catcher, second base, short stop, and center field. Somehow, I don’t see him having the necessary speed for three of those four positions….
cards2WS
His bat would not play at first. He’d be the catcher the whole contract.
funkytime
Mauer got what he did because he was an absolute beast before he signed that contract. Molina’s best seasons would rank among Mauer’s worst.
bighiggy
molina may not have mauer’s bat but his defense is ten times better than mauer’s! and baseball is a 2 sided sport, its not all offense, his defense is the best in the league
NickinIthaca
I try and watch him catch as much as possible. His game calling, arm, and even more so his snap throws make him one of the most exciting games in my humble opinion…
nathanalext
“Other two catchers (Jorge Posada and Joe Mauer) who have signed deals with a $10MM AAV.”
Mike Piazza count as well? Minor detail, but, the point still stands.
I hope he goes to say, the Angels, and get him from away from the NL-C. 🙂
dylanp5030
Also, McCann will soon as well. Does Victor Martinez count?
Amish_willy
Yeah their have been several other catchers that signed for 10m/yr. The Tigers gave Pudge 4/40m with an option that ended up being excercised, making it 5/50m. Jason Kendall signed a 6/60m deal with the Pirates a decade ago.
I’d expect Yadier to get a deal like 4/50m or 5/60m if he hits free agency next season when you factor in inflation. 10m/yr only seems realistic if he re-signs with the Cards, unless he has a poor/injured season.
MetsMagic
Piazza’s was 7/$91mm, which was the biggest contract ever for a position player at the time. I’ll wager that Molina won’t sniff that amount. Jason Kendall got 6/60mm from the Bucs, and I can see Yadier signing for something close to that, but in the 5-year range.
valkscool
I think they should sign him to a 3 year deal worth $33,000,000.
JamesOrLurch
My guess/hope is $12 mill for 4-5 years with 2 team options at $13-14 mill each with bonuses for GG, SS, MVP, and All Star selection.
Get it done, Mo.
Bennet Erbaugh
If St. Louis doesn’t re-sign him, I’d like to think that the Rockies could make a play for him.
Dave P
I thought after the 04 World Series…Jason Varitek signed a 4 yr…40 million contract??? 10 million average??
Chillin_in_California
The cardinals have absolutely no execuse to not sign this guy. Get it done
Andrew
Jason Varitek also had a contract worth 10 million per year…he is much more comparable to Molina than the others you listed.
Jimmy Wehmeier
The Cards caused more harm not signing Pujols.
Brian G
Signing Pujols would have caused far more harm than not signing him.
Brian G
It’s pretty bad that this article was already written in the St. Louis Post-Dispatch last week. And it didn’t contain errors from lack of research into previous catcher contracts either.
James Grenard
Hopefully he will be open to signing an extension during the season. I don’t wanna go through the long off season waiting game again just to be disappointed.
Jacob Viets
I would sign him to a 7 year 83 million dollar deal.