Cardinals, Molina reach $75M deal through 2017

[cruzg24]

JUPITER, Fla. (AP)—The St. Louis Cardinals made certain another big star did not get away.

Four-time Gold Glove catcher Yadier Molina agreed to a five-year, $75 million contract Thursday that kicks in next season and will keep him in St. Louis through the 2017 season. The deal makes Molina, long known for his premier defense and with a much improved bat, the second-highest paid catcher in the majors.

“He’s the best catcher in the game,” teammate Carlos Beltran said. “When you have the best catcher in the game you have to sign him. It’s great for the organization, to keep a guy like that.”

Unlike Molina’s close friend Albert Pujols, who bolted for a 10-year, $240 million deal with Anaheim in December, the Cardinals stepped up before another of their cornerstone players entered the final year of his contract. Chairman Bill DeWitt Jr. called Molina a “franchise-type player.”

“I don’t think there was added pressure,” general manager John Mozeliak said. “When you look at a core or elite type player, that’s how we view them.”

The total price tag could easily top $90 million over seven seasons with Molina due to make $7 million this year and a mutual, $15 million option for 2018. The deal trails only the Twins’ Joe Mauer (eight years, $184 million) among catchers.

Molina won his second World Series with St. Louis last fall and said, “I’m happy to be a Cardinal for 5-6 more years. I’m looking to like six more championships. This is a great organization.”

“I grew up here, I feel good here,” Molina said. “It was my first choice to stay here.”

Talks accelerated after Molina’s longtime agent, Melvin Roman, arrived at the team’s spring training site last week. Roman has represented the catcher since he signed his first contract with St. Louis in 2000, when Molina was a fourth-round pick.

“The whole process was very easy,” Roman said. “We worked very hard to get it done.”

 

[bestkeptsecret13]

Pretty bad contract IMO.

 

[elcheato]

This is like giving Bruce Bowen a max contract

 

[RipCity32]

Da fuck?

 

[Mexi]

lol cardinals

vast overpay

 

[snipezo]

This could bite them in the ass.

 

[Asian Mamba Attack]

I would of offer 30M less than that through 2016. Then I would be able to pick up a good hitter with some money left.

 

[snipezo]

Bautista's contract
5-year $65 million

Yadier's
5 years $75 mil

holy shit

 

[cruzg24]

Yea, Molina definitely got overpaid. Its going to be interesting how this prevents the Cardinals from picking up valuable free agents with this big contract.

 

[Teagz]

wow terrible.

 

[Mexi]

Bautista's contract
5-year $65 million

Yadier's
5 years $75 mil

holy shit

lol