In an interesting twist on the post-2020 catching market, long-time Cardinals backstop Yadier Molina tells ESPN.com’s Marly Rivera that he’s open to playing in another uniform if and when he reaches free agency.
That’s quite a different stance than the one Molina announced just a few months ago. He made clear then that he was interested in continuing to play, but only in St. Louis, where he has been a fixture behind the dish since 2005. The team reciprocated and launched extension talks that seemed likely to come to fruition.
Now? Molina explains to Rivera that “the situation with this pandemic has changed everything.” While he still prefers to remain with the Cards — the only team he has ever played for — the likely future Hall of Famer says he’s “willing to go into free agency” and find another organization.
It seems the change of heart is less about Molina’s feelings towards the team than it is his feelings for the game of baseball itself. He says he’d like to “have that conversation” again about an extension with the Cardinals, at least once baseball finally starts back up. And Molina says he’s “confident” an agreement will come together.
But the time away from the game has also convinced Molina he wants to keep going past a (likely shortened) 2020 campaign. In fact, the 37-year-old says he intends to keep playing for two more seasons no matter the outcome of his talks with the Cards.
Francys01
Really? I thought he wanted to play only for the Cards.
Eatdust666
Same
CardsNation5
He does. This quarantine stuff has a lot of people talking out the side of their necks.
Manfredsajoke
Greed
Jeff Zanghi
I really don’t think it’s “greed” motivated… I’m guessing the Cards probably want to go with their top catching prospect who’s already 24 years old — and Molina was probably considering retiring/taking a reduced role in a year or so to accommodate — but now that he’s not going to get the chance at a full year this year — he wants to have at least one more full season behind the dish — and if the Cards are going to go another direction behind the plate… then he’ll have no choice other than to play for another team I think it’s just a matter of wanting to play period — I think he definitely still prefers it to be in STL but understands they may want to go a different direction and if so… he’s prepared to play elsewhere so that he can have the opportunity to still be an everyday catcher for another year or two.
123redsox
Knizer is 25, ranked their #4 prospect and is likely a back up right now. Whether or not he is a long term answer as a starter is a question. And Carson Kelly who was one of their top prospects is also 25 but was traded for Goldschmidt last year. So I’m really not sure who you are talking about
cards81
The next cardinals catcher will be Herrera who is 19 years old…knizner will most likely be traded…Herrera is the cardinals #4 prospect and Knizner is their #6
spinach
I think it’s more that he pointlessly killed any leverage he had by announcing he’d only play there (perhaps resulting in them offering him $5m rather than the $10m he wanted or whatever the numbers would be) and now he is doing his best to get it back.
SalaryCapMyth
Why is Molina getting a difficult time about this? The extra time he has spent away from baseball has shown him he doesn’t want to hang up the cleats. I think the issue would sooner be whether the Cardinals will resign him.
Greed? I mean maybe he wants more money but he isn’t going to even sniff the 3/60 contract he got before. I can’t imagine he would do better than 2 years $16 million.
I don’t even like the guy and I don’t think there is anything here to be so cynical toward.
ohyeadam
The previous talks prolly weren’t going how he wanted.
jorge78
Because spending more time with his family isn’t as great as he thought?
Erik
I’m a cubs fan and know Yadier Molina will retire with a Cardinals uniform on
wordonthestreet
What does your being a Cubs fan have to do with anything
JerryBird
So did Albert Pujols or so he said at one time.
Iknowmorebaseball
I hate to tell you Cardinal fans that you have to wake up and read between the lines. Players say that all the time that they want to play for St Louis and end their career there but it’s just propaganda so they can get a contract and win the fans over. PR work. At the end of the day everybody just wants to keep playing and everybody wants money and that’s what these players do
Iknowmorebaseball
And what makes matters worse francys is that he may end up in Cincinnati because as of recently they’ve been trying to sign catchers.
Rangers29
Woah… I just had a disturbing image of Yadi in Yankee pinstripes backing up Sanchez.
bsball63
Think you overestimate Yadi’s willingness to accept a backup position anywhere
RedFeather
I believe I read that he is willing to split or possibly backup in St Louis should he decide to continue. I forget where I read this (possible here) since it was a few months back.
Iknowmorebaseball
Silly lmao! I heard the opposite. He definitely does not want to be a backup. One of the top 10 catchers of all time is thinking of being a backup at the end of his career? I don’t think, sorry.
mcmillankmm
Since Sanchez isn’t much on defense, feel like he would be seeing some time at DH or 1B if Yadi chose to head to NY
LouisianaAstros
Understatement of the Year regarding Gary Sanchez
acryingfish
I doubt he plays dh or 1b for the yankees, they already have to many hitters that are better than yadi.
Sanchez plays those positions before yadi does.
MWeller77
He said that Sanchez would move from behind the plate, not Molina
jorge78
Acryingfish has
zero
comprehensive
skills!
SirCheeto1
Yankees aren’t spending big money on a back up catcher.
scottn59c
Yadi might not cost big money by then. And he might like the opportunity to latch on to a contender.
Tom E. Snyder
Yankees? Contender? Yes. WS Winner? No.
spinach
They actually might if there was some “it” factor to the signing that they thought could help push them over the top. Heck of a lot less expensive that $324m.
RedFeather
If he is willing to back up in NY than why not just back up in STL. Thought that was the plan anyways.
dave frost nhlpa
Yeah because ANOTHER right handed bat is what they need.
zpgreen
I love what Molina has brought to the Cards, but honestly, this should be all the Cards need to just move on. Sign Wieters to a 2 year deal if you can and have him and Knizner battle for the starting spot or even platoon and hold it down until Herrera is ready in a couple years.
screwball8
That’s not the worse idea. But I’d rather see yadi stay in stl.. take on a reduced roll to let knizner blossom..
Golfish48
Whatever the outcome with Molina, Wieters is not part of the solution.
EndinStealth
Exactly. Weiters isnt even that great a backup.
Iknowmorebaseball
Finally someone that’s making sense about the catching situation.
eqjohnson
Who says Herrera is ever going to be ready? He’s just a prospect, that’s all.
baseballhobo
The Tom Brady of baseball players.
LouisianaAstros
Brady never used PEDs
echozulu88
Ummm and when was Yadi Linked to anything? You might have seen him throwing something away in a trash can but only the Astros use trashcans as devices to improve their on-field performance
spidah_carbone
hahahaahha you idiot.
acryingfish
him and bill cheated in other ways.
as for the steroids ” yet”
g4
Suuuuuuure. And Brady “took less money” to help the team, as opposed to being paid under the table. Hey, I got some oceanfront property in Arizona for sale if you’re interested. LMK.
RedFeather
A fan of cheaters defending a cheater. Hahaha
LouisianaAstros
Cardinals are the ones who got in trouble for hacking.
Much worse than anything the Astros did.
StL is pretty much a criminal organization it sounds like
Reason why Yadi fits in so well probably.
EndinStealth
This is the most ludicrous post I’ve seen in awhile. You’re either trolling or need help.
jkinser20
@LAastros Holy moly that may have been the dumbest post I’ve ever read in my life. A rouge employee logging into the asstros database is worse than what the asstros did? Unbelievable take my friend. Seek help. Or an education
SalaryCapMyth
@LouisianaAstros; Astros fans like you are just drawing out the pain by trying to find someone who did worse than the Astros. Nobody that is NOT an Astros fan would buy what you said.
I would also like to think there are Astros fans out there that are reasonable and rational and can simply agree that what the Astros did was screwed up and leave it at that and NOT feel the need to point fingers at everyone else or even try to find someone who did worse.
SalaryCapMyth
413, leave a link or stop telling stories.
LouisianaAstros
Considering the fact that people in the Cardinals organization committed an actual criminal act I think your fanbase really shouldn’t say much.
Plus may have changed but it was a well known fact when the Astros where in the NL Central StL was a dirty team.
EndinStealth
Get help
eqjohnson
ummm what is a rouge employee?
chesteraarthur
It’s what a team uses as a scapegoat for their nefarious actions.
Iknowmorebaseball
Louisiana Astro don’t forget that they also use technology to steal signs and relay them to their batteries. I’ve been saying this for years and people think I’m crazy. I remember the Cardinals having this crazy stat with runners in scoring position for most of the year. I even remember the sportscasters covering the games saying that they can’t believe what the batting with men and scoring position was for the Cardinals. Also remember that somehow the Cardinals had mediocre players hitting amazing for the most of the season. And now McDowell former pitcher of the White Sox claims that La Russo was stealing signs. Other then that year or years the Cardinals are a successful and rich history organization.
swinging wood
While it won’t happen, it would be hilarious to see him sign for the North Side ala Gary Gaetti or Jim Edwards.
EndinStealth
Jim Edmonds would like a word..
swinging wood
Umm, autocorrect? Lol, yes. Whoops.
LouisianaAstros
Jim Edwards is the GOAT
mlbnyyfan
Yadi even in his advanced age would be starting over Sanchez. Sanchez moved to DH.
SirCheeto1
This statement is laughably bad.
Eatdust666
How so? Because even when Yadi is in the last year of his career he will still be better defender than Sanchez will ever be.
30 Parks
All hail Yadi.
mjb070781
I’d like to see Molina agree to play full-time through 2021 and then starting splitting time with Herrera and eventually move into coaching. If he signs any sort of extension at all, Knizner becomes a trade chip.
jimmybcool
I don’t believe it. Molinas final and most important goal going forward is to make it into the HOF. He knows playing for only one club improves his chances. Why I have no idea but that is how it works. If he left STL and played 2 lackluster years in another city it would tarnish his legacy. I believe this is all posturing trying to get more money out of STL. They should not flinch. At this point and age it should be year to year and heavily performance based. He has already been paid.
spidah_carbone
spot on
scottn59c
I think you’re right about the HOF, but I think he’s going in no matter what. And I think the guy just wants to play ball. Players are competitive, and some of these guys…you have to pull the uniform off of them before they retire. Rickey Henderson still wanted to play when he was 50! And Manny Ramirez is almost that old and wants another shot – did you see that article this morning?
rememberthecoop
Can you picture him in a Cubs uniform? Neither can I.
johndietz
He should finish up with the Angels since he’s the only Molina that hasn’t played for us
driftcat28 2
I could see the Astros, Rays, Angels, Mets, Red Sox as potential landing spots
LouisianaAstros
Rather have Sal Perez
Molina was good 3 years ago
bothymam24
this could be a ploy by Molina’s agents honestly
fannclub6
Ask Albert how that ended. I can’t believe Yadi pulls this crap now. Waino has always been classy and just stars because that’s the uniform he wants to wear. Should not be about money.
fannclub6
Stays. Not stars
Smell the Glove
I’ll preface this comment by saying I can’t stand this guy and is maybe one of the most detestable players in the league (to me.) It really doesn’t have any bearing on my point, but I’m just petty like that.
But really why would any player have to explain why he wants to play longer. You win the life lottery by getting a chance to play in the majors? Run that tank empty.
pinballwizard1969
He’ll turn 39 during the 2021 season. Can’t imagine him getting anymore than at most 2 yr deal this winter as a FA. Could be just just 1 yr guaranteed with an additional vesting option.
Uncle Sam
Is he a HOF? I know the Cardinal fans will say first ballot, but what backs that up? 40.1 WAR? 2 really good years with some ok ones before and after?
dfinmozarks
US. What stats are you using as your baseline?? Aren’t you ignoring early a decade of gold gloves defense in a league with a lot of very good catchers? How about his leadership and handling of pitchers? There’s more than hitting to asses a players value — especially catchers.
GregF
See ya!
AmaralFan1
Yeah. Yadier is no where near a sure thing for the Hall of Fame. You let him in and now we need to talk about voting in Jason Kendall. and Jorge Posada in. Dream on Cards fans.
stan lee the manly
Both of these guys were horrible defensively so neither are a good comparison.
rookiegreg
You guys have an interesting debate going on.. WAR is a cumulative stat that shows the sum of offensive and defensive production.. for a catcher, Yadi is better than average for sure but nothing amazing.. However, his defensive WAR is the 5th best all time.. that includes things WAR does not show like 9 gold gloves.. his defensive career WAR is 25.. Bill Freehan is 12.. these guys are not remotely comparable in terms of WAR
rookiegreg
** I meant to say nothing amazing on offense.. he is absolutely amazing on defense as my previous comment alludes to
rookiegreg
The best comparisons for Freehan as far as WAR is concerned are Jason Kendall, Thurman Munson and Buster Posey.. comparing one player to another by cumulative WAR can be a bit of a trap sometimes as its not intended to be apples to apples
Dotnet22
Guys 413 is the smartest person alive and if you don’t believe it, just ask him. You won’t win an argument against him or change him mind because he’s better than you in every aspect and only his opinions matter. His baseball IQ is bigger than Bruce Bochy’s head.
Eatdust666
Still way better defensively than Gary Sanchez, though.
jorge78
He wants more money?
troll
first year he doesn’t play in st louis, they win it all.
James1955
Biased Card fans. He may play for another team for more money. He is not the best catcher of all time. Johnny Bench is the best catcher of all time. Buster Posey was the best catcher of his era. Posey was a better hitter and good defensively.
JamesDaltOn
It took forever for Ted Simmons to make the HOF because he played in an era with a bunch of HOF catchers, as somebody mentioned above: Bench (the best), Fisk, and Carter, not to mention some non-HOFer’s who were better than most of the catchers today, like Thurman Munson, Bob Boone, Gene Tenace, Tony Pena, Benito Santiago, Lance Parrish, Terry Kennedy, among others. The catching position hasn’t changed in the past quarter of a century, the game has, shortstops have for sure, base stealing has, bullpens have changed, but catching is still catching. You’re either a catcher that can hit, like Simmons, or a catcher who plays solid defense, like Bob Boone, or both, like Bench and Fisk and Carter. I don’t really get how WAR judges the catching position accurately. Molina is considered HOF material because he only has a few guys like Mauer and Posey and Sal Perez and McCann to compare him to. Piazza and Ivan Rodriguez were great. And, by the way, Mauer is the best of his generation. Catchers nowadays are kinda scrubs.
Dom2
He should play for the Reds
Jdog051586
Y’all have seemed to forget about Dan Wilson and Javier Lopez and Todd Hundley and Sandy Alomar Jr. Those guys are better then Molina in my opinion.Even probably Darrin Fletcher
Rsox
He can go to the Angels to complete the Molina Brothers trifecta. Even at his age he’s still better than any Catcher they’ve had in years
Logjammer D"Baggagecling
It would be weird seeing him out of cardinal red. Give him what he wants. 2/36 with incentives. Retire as a Cardinal. 5-8 years after he retires and is a first ballot HOFer. He’ll be ML Manager. Possibly for the Cardinals