Cardinals Under Contract: Yadier Molina

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Contract Terms: Yadier Molina signed his current contract two months before Adam Wainwright signed a very similar deal. The Cardinals locked up this half of their young battery with a four year contract covering his three arbitration years and his first year of free agency. The deal guaranteed Molina $15.5 million during the four years of the contract while the Cardinals hold a club option for the 2012 season.

2008: $1.75 million
2009: $3.25 million
2010: $4.25 million
2011: $5.25 million
2012: $7 million (Club Option - $0.75 million Buyout)

The Rationale Then: Molina has been the primary starter in St. Louis since the 2005 season. Yadier catches as many games as any catcher in baseball and has been very durable. Then 25 years old, Molina was entering his prime years and beginning to show progress at the plate. The Cardinals took a risk on Molina continuing to develop at the plate by guaranteeing him $15.5 million in his contract.

The Outlook Today: Like Adam Wainwright, Yadier Molina's contract has been very good for the Cardinals. The defensive expert has received the National League Gold Glove at catcher in both 2008 and 2009. Molina has also continued his offensive development, hitting .298 with a .745 OPS since signing his contract. Molina is a well-rounded catcher and earned his first career All-Star berth in 2009. Molina somehow managed to finish 23rd in the National League MVP voting last year as well!

Moving Forward: Molina will be 30 years old when his contract expires, assuming the Cardinals exercise his 2012 option. As with most of these contracts, Molina needs to stay healthy. Molina's contract seems especially reasonable compared to the contracts that veteran catchers of inferior ability are landing in free agency this year. The Cardinals ability to resign players like Yadier Molina at such a reasonable cost has allowed them the payroll flexibility moving forward to retain players like Matt Holliday at higher costs.
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