The Cardinals and franchise icon Yadier Molina have had a protracted back-and-forth in contract talks this winter. Molina’s agent Melvin Roman opened the offseason noting they were looking for a two-year deal. St. Louis’ front office has stayed in contact with the 38-year-old’s camp but has apparently not yet put forth an offer at what Molina deems an appropriate price point.
Despite being at something of an impasse, there appears to be continued mutual interest. Cardinals ownership still wants to bring back Molina and right-hander Adam Wainwright, whom they consider “legacy players” in the franchise’s history, notes Derrick Goold of the St. Louis Post-Dispatch. For his part, St. Louis remains “where (Molina) wants to be,” a source tells Goold (Twitter link).
The veteran catcher told Mas Que Pelota last month that, in addition to his talks with the Cardinals, he has heard from the Yankees, Mets, Padres and Angels. (The Mets have since signed James McCann, no doubt taking them out of the running). That gives the nine-time All-Star alternatives if the Cards’ front office holds firm on their current valuation. Molina returning to St. Louis still seems a desirable fit for both sides, but they’ll need to bridge their apparent gap on terms to make that happen.
i hope to see Waino and Yadi go elsewhere. not that i dislike STL – I actually quite respect them – but I like to see guys end their careers somehere odd. its more interesting then being a lifer in my opinion.
How is that interesting at all?
I agree with him. It’s like a bizzaro world interesting.
seeing a player in another uniform. its odd but therefore interesting.
Odd=odd
Interesting = interesting
Odd is not interesting. odd is odd, so go with your limited Vocabulary
Odd is often very interesting. Writers often use the offbeat, unique, unexpected and quirky rather than the familiar and expected because it is more interesting.
I’ll tell you what is interesting. The San Diego Padres Owners and Front office. They have seen the benefit of a year of lower contract offers and are obtaining players—- Not to just be competitive—- but to have a shot at a World Series!!!
Wouldn’t it be nice to have an ownership, plus a more capable president of baseball operations with the Cardinals who would want a National league league pennant instead of backing into and obtaining a one and done wild card series. With a .500 record.
My Mets were always the retirement home for stars who refuse to quit.
Willie Mays, Duke Snider, Yogi Berra, Warren Spahn, Tom Glavine, Richie Ashburn, Mickey Lolich, Gil Hodges, Julio Franco, Rickey Henderson, Randy Jones, Jose Bautista, Andres Galarraga, Adrian Gonzalez..
The nursing home franchise
Bartolo Colon… Let’s do this Mets!
The Padres used to be like that too. Lolich and Henderson also made stops in San Diego, along with Mike Piazza, Greg Maddux, Willie McCovey, Doug Rader, Dave Kingman, and Rick Wise among others.
Bobby Bonilla, Mo Vaughn
Sheffield, Alomar
Tom Glavine was still a solid starter with the Mets. Not sure about the others
How truly weird, Darkside.
Sammy Sosa on the Orioles or Rangers(even though he started with them)
Shaq on the Celtics.
Russell Westbrook not only on the Wizards but wearing #4
John Smoltz on the Cardinals
Tom Brady on the Buccaneers.
Philip Rivers on Colts. The list is endless.
Like Edwin Jackson on the Blue Jays
Edwin Jackson on 14 other teams…
Thank you that was the joke….
DarkSide as a frequent commenter I respect your input but I’ve honestly never heard this take from anyone before. I guess I could see some sort of situation where you hated to see a great player waste some of his last remaining years in an organizational rebuild but I see every reason for a reunion here. One, it’s not as if anyone in the organization is putting pressure on the Cardinals to move on especially in Molinas case. Two, the NL Central just isn’t very good even if the Cardinals are very mediocre. Everyone might get worse while the Cardinals kind of stay the same. That may be enough this season. They’ve stated if they were to go they’d like to go together(another sign it won’t happen imo)so why leave for a team like say the Phillies fighting to get into the playoffs. Not like these guys haven’t won a World Series either. Everything to me points to a reunion. I think it might be the two years Molina is seeking being the hold up. I’m sure there is interest in his services but I see it getting worked out. How much do you want to pay a catcher at his age with some signs of decline over two years at his age regardless of pedigree? He’s worth more on a one year deal where if he falls off a cliff on a one year deal he rides off into sunset legacy intact fans gracing his praises
Cubs would be a interesting change of scenery .
I can see where your coming from of course but for me I always preferred to see a player play his whole career with one team as it’s so rare today. As a giants fan Mays on the Mets broke my heart. Bonds played with the Pirates but seeing him hit .208 with 3 HR in 140 AB with the Indians or Marlins would have broke my heart. Matt Cain and Tony Gwynn defined their franchise at least as far as my life time is concerned, in my humble opinion.
Like Hakeem Olajuwon with the Raptors
Like Patrick Ewing as a Seattle Super Sonic
Like Michael Jordan on the Wizards
like brady on the bucs
Jason Kendall playing for the A’s was always wierd to me.
I lived in Oakland when he played for the A’s and couldn’t believe that trade.
I never understood that Kendall deal. He basically won the lottery with his various pay days.
Not to say he wasn’t worth paying at all, but from what I understand and observed, his overall production and defensive metrics always pegged him at a $6-8M per year kinda guy, even back with Kendall averaging $11M and then still getting $5M per season after that deal expired just blew my mind. His dWAR didn’t really justify it and his oWAR never quite did either.
If he signed that deal today, it would’ve been 6 years/$80M. Incredible. I do not get it. I’m not saying to not pay a guy who doesn’t hit home runs, but not much about his numbers or consistency seemed to justify it for me.
I guess he got paid for his On Base Percentage and he did have pretty high averages some years. Lots of singles.
Kendall was seen as a strong defensive catcher, I think, and good on the basepaths (for a catcher). The A’s also sometimes pay a premium for grit, which he had plenty of.
I remember Jason Kendall had a stretch of like 6 seasons without a homerun. Could be wrong but I think be broke the streak as a Cub.
Ewing was traded to the Sonics
Like Boggs as a Devil Ray
Boggs on the Devil Rays wasn’t odd as it was a homecoming for him finishing his career in Tampa. Boggs in the Hall of Fame as a Devil Ray, that’s odd
Boggs’ HoF plague has a Boston hat. His number is retired by the Rays, but he didn’t go into the Hall as a Devil Ray.
Like Emmitt Smith running for the Arizona Cardinals
Like Pele on the Cosmos
Like Babe Ruth as a Boston Brave
To show my age: Joe Namath as a Ram and Johnny Unitas as a Charger.
Dwight Evans with the Orioles
Harmon Killabrew and Orlando Cepeda as Royals.
And Dickie Post as a Houston Oiler.
Like Ernie Banks as a White Sox
And Beckenbauer, Alberto, A lot of soccer stars finished with Cosmo’s. Name value was the key. I went to the games , I am old. Plus dating one of the cheerleaders back then.
Like Karl Malone on the Lakers.
Brett Favre as a Jet
Brett Favre as a Viking actually
Brett Farve went out as a Viking not a Jet
True, but that was one odd year
Gretzke on the Blues
Franco Harris as a Seahawk
Maybe Benito Santiago is available to sign.
And Tony Pena
Pretty sure his kid Francisco is still playing. Formal cardinal!
Mookie as a Dodger? Am I playing this game right? Haha
If the Cardinals want to compete in 2021, they should let Wainwright go. He cost them an NLDS trip and he can’t pitch against good offenses anymore
With Hudson out with TJ
Kim
Flaherty are the only 2 guaranteed spots
Mikolas is coming back from surgery
Carlos who knows what you’re getting from him I think he should be dealt. But signing Waino is more important for next year more than signing Yadi.
Yadi the only catcher gets to wear the Air Jordan Gold
I wanna see him in STL, him and Adam Wainwright
I can see Genesis Cabrera starting games, Ponce De Leon, K.K., Austin Gomber, Johan Odivido, bigger problems for them is where is the production coming from in the lineup?
Waino’s a bum
Or just make him a reliever, and add like 5 years to his career (which doesnt have that many miles on that arm)
Yo we barely snuck in the playoffs and would have had worse luck if waino wasnt pitching.
The guy can change speeds and pitch to contact, hes a smart pitcher and a competitor. Hes not chris carpenter on his last ride, the guy can still compete and he’s gonna give them a 4.00 era and innings even if he has to will it.
Molina doesn’t project to be any better than catcher-in-waiting Andrew Knizner. Cards should let him walk just like they did with Pujols.
Projections are not reality. Knizner is a classic bust in waiting, the guy can’t hit and Yadi will definitely outproduce him in 2021. Wasn’t his ceiling always going to be a backup anyway? Dont forget, the short season last year favors guys like Yadi.
Also, the Cards did not “let Pujols walk” they lost a bidding war on him, no one is offering Yadi Pujols money, come on…..
So, projections are not reality but your declaration that Knizner is going to be a bust is?
The cards didn’t get into a bidding war for him? He had a 10 year/250 million dollar offer waiting for him all that year…. ownership said that they wouldn’t go any higher and they didn’t because they didn’t have the DH to hide him at later in the contract… also them allowing Pujols to walk is what allowed them to keep Yadi and Waino for the last 10 years
Um. that’s not true. If he had a 10 year 250M contract from STL he would be wearing Cardinal red, not a Halo. Seeing as how the angels signed him to a 10 year 240M contract. He didn’t leave STL for less money…
Yadi can’t hit anymore
You don’t need projections to see that Molina is no longer an MLB average catcher at his age. The past two seasons combined (600 PA) Molina is at 1.7 fWAR and an 86 wRC+. That’s subpar.
Who said he can’t hit? The guy got like 60 Abs or something, never played consistently. I’ll take my chances on him rather than a guy that seems like he wants 15 mil even though he’s worth like 3
Knizner has hit at every level he just needs some playing time which is what Yadi doesn’t give young players. I a huge Cardinals fan but if Yadi doesn’t want to step back and mentor it’s time for the cards to let him seek a spot somewhere else, just like they did with Matheny. Another thing they have Herrara who is a good prospect.
The one constant with Knizner is the projection that he will be able to hit big league pitching, he’s always been known for his bat. Very inaccurate take
Yawn, nothing like another regifted article.
Merry Christmas!
If they let these two walk away it’s time for a mini rebuild. It seems like the entire NL Central is going through one so you might even be able to keep making the playoffs while doing so
Lol really? If they let them walk they should do a rebuild???? They’re not competing for World Series WITH THEM! Need to do it now and forget about wasting money on the senior citizens!
STL fans are a special breed
Incomplete thoughts with no explanation are my favorite.
Yadi! Yadi!! Yadi!!
Easter 2019 I was sitting 3rd base side and Yadi had an at bat in the 3rd inning and I got up and started chanting Yadi! Yadi!! Yadi!!! and he drove a ball to left on a line and drove in a run
It would be a nice Christmas gift to the fans from ownership to announce both brought back for an amount that is respectable but doesn’t prevent other signings. Please Santa
I think that’s the key. Theyve overpaid for Molina the last few years, he akready got his big legacy contract. He should not be greedy now. And although Wainwright had a solid 2020, he isnt more than a fringe 5th starter right now.
I’m still sticking with my theory that Cubs package Contreras with Bryant and then sign Molina and Wainwright to cheap 2 year deals. How great a storyline would it be for a cubs/cards game 7 with Waino on the mound for the cubs.
sign yadi, but first get rid of carpenter fowler and c martinez
Man… if they are talking about “legacy players” then they definitely aren’t going to be getting rid of any vets, lol
Marty McRae—-Maybe troll should rephrase his statement to add this. Molina and Wainwright are currently productive legacy Cardinal players. Carpenter, C. Martinez are not currently productive players from within the organization. Fowler was not brought up through the Cardinals organization.
Carpenter and C. Martinez are over paid liabilities who the front office and owners demand all 3 start because they have so much money invested in them.
So——How many games do you think Carpenter and C. Martinez cost the Cardinals in 2020 because it was mandatory that Schildt start them.
If Yadi could go to Pads or Yanks he should. One more chance to win it all.
Yadiel needs to understand that he’s not that young poppy anymore and seems that his ego is growing as he’s getting older…..
This is what happens when front offices start acting like fans. Getting attached to “legacy” players in their late thirties will drag you down.
Month old information is not “news”
Waino is following TLR to the Sox. Just waiting for the his price to go down.
Jeez, just sign him. Still probably as good a defensive catcher as there is–I’d love to see the Rays pony up for him, though that won’t happen. A great defensive catcher is priceless–ask any pitcher, manager, or pitching coach.
If that’s all they are, great defensive catchers are a dime-a-dozen, just look at their paychecks ….
In-their-prime ACES are priceless.
If no other club is offering his “appropriate price point”, they should stop moaning a long-time employer should overpay when he has been very well compensated in the past. Loyalty is a 2-way street.
If it’s such a strain on the Cardinals to resign 3 legendary players why stay in a Organization who doesn’t respect and want to keep you???
Yadi and Waino——- don’t re-sign with the Cardinals. They’re disrespecting you both in comparison to the extension they gave a non productive player in Matt Carpenter for 2 years. Demand the same or take the Yankees offer and be in on winning another World Series. Winning a World Series while Mozeliak and DeWitt are watching it on television!!!
Carp was a MVP candidate when they extended him Mo didn’t want him becoming a FA so his crystal ball didn’t work for him.
Nobody was going to give him 20mil a year. This extension was a head scratcher and a frustrating one at that.
I think the key here is there are no other offers for Yadi right now. “Having interest” or “checking in” are not offers.
He’s looking more like a defense only guy, and those can be had a lot cheaper than what he’s probably asking for. Kind of shocking to think of him in another uni, but the Cards have to think about what’s best for them going forward.
Father Time is undefeated. Redbirds just need to wait these guys out, they will sign on the dotted line.
Much respect to Yadi… but he has overpriced his worth. Nobody will offer his demand of 2y-20m, so it will be interesting to see how much he comes down and with whom. Happy Holidays all!
Even the great Smokey Burgess was only a pinch hitter in his late 30’s. Catching takes it’s toll.
I think they’d both be due for pay reductions…. I’d give Yadi 1 year/$7.5M and Wainwright 1 year/$3.5M. I am guessing Yadi wants 1 year/$10M or something and Wainwright wants 1 year/$5M again.
Or like others have said, the Cardinals could just not sign them and move on from their era, great as they were. It’s definitely time, nostalgia, loyalty and all that aside.
At this point, they are both to the Cardinals what Brett Gardner is to the Yankees-a beloved but replaceable and log jamming player- and I say that as a Yankee fan.
Bobby Bonilla finished in 2001 with the Cardinals, but the Mets are still paying him until 2035 lol.
Bth have been great for the Cards. Make each a decent 1 year offer… then move on.
I’d like Yadi on the Yankees. Mentor Gary for a year
See ya Yadi. The Cars have been more than generous with you. Over played your hand.
Cardinals low ball Molina then he should go to the Yankees for a payday! Cardinals are screwing this up aka the ownership!
Do one or more of these Cardinals get a statue built for them outside of Busch Stadium and/or have their uniform number retired?
(Current stats as Cardinals, non-SABRMetric)
Yadier Molina
17y w/ StL, 9x All-Star, 9 Gold Gloves, 2001 hits, 160HRs, 932RBIs, 2x WS Champion
Adam Wainwright
15y, 3x All-Star, 2 GGs, 167 Wins, 1830Ks, 1x World Series Champion
Albert Pujols
11yrs, 1973 Hits, 445 HRs, 9x All-Star. 2x GGs, 1x Batting Title, 3x MVP, 3x MLB PoY, 6x Silver Slugger, 2x WS Champion
JD Drew,
6yrs, Who cares.
I think the Cards should be offering a 1-yr Deal with a Team Option for a 2nd year.
The money should be decent, but not a budget buster….. maybe something like $8-10 Mil in yr 1……..and $5 Mil for the option….with some bonus incentives if he continues to perform well.
2/16 sounds like the max to me. Otherwise…..let him go.
He was just overpaid for the last 3 years, and his declining skills at the plate are already on display.
Absolutely. If any team is willing to overpay for Yadi, let him go.