As contract talks between the St. Louis Cardinals and Yadier Molina are reportedly at an impasse, the franchise may have said farewell to their longtime catcher.
The days of players staying with one team for their entire careers are essentially long in the past. Free agency and a focus on budgetary matters have led to players being more mercenary than they had been in the early days, for better or for worse. Those franchise icons simply do not stay around any longer.
Yadier Molina was one of the exceptions. His entire 17 year career had been spent with the St. Louis Cardinals. Although he is a free agent, and has reportedly been looking for a two year deal of his own, it was seemingly inevitable that he would return to the organization.
That may no longer be the case. Contract talks between Molina and the Cardinals have not gone anywhere, as Molina’s representatives have reportedly walked away from the negotiating table, calling the team’s offer ‘ridiculous.’
Although the Cardinals’ offer itself remains unknown, Molina is said to be seeking, at minimum, a one year deal worth at least $10 million and an option for 2022. His preference for a two year deal is well known, but he is aware that may not happen.
One can understand why the Cardinals may be balking at Molina’s salary request. He has not exactly been the same player, especially with the bat, over the past two seasons. In that time, he has posted a .268/.310/.388 batting line in his 608 plate appearances, hitting 14 homers and 26 doubles. Those are not terrible numbers, but Molina is not the same player he had once been. Nonetheless, his defensive ability and strong arm make him worth a two year offer, although maybe not at a price that Molina wants.
Unless Molina’s price comes down, we may have seen the last of him as a member of the Cardinals. He has attracted interest in free agency, having been linked to several other teams during the offseason. He does not have to return to St. Louis to have a starting role.
It also appears that the St. Louis Cardinals do not need Yadier Molina for their lineup. That last contract offer may have been the organization saying goodbye to their longtime catcher.