Cardinals Reward Catcher Yadier Molina With Contract Extension
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Dilip Vishwanat/Getty Images(NEW YORK) — The St. Louis Cardinals have locked up one their core players, who has helped the team to two World Series titles over the past six seasons.
According to CBS, the team has given catcher Yadier Molina a five-year contract extension worth $75 million.
Molina’s extension is the second biggest deal ever for a catcher, behind the Minnesota Twins’ Joe Mauer, and will run through the 2017 season.
The 29-year old Molina is entering his ninth season in Major League Baseball, all with the Cardinals. This past season, Molina set career highs in batting average (.305), home runs (14), runs batted in (65), and runs scored (55).
Aside from his regular season success, Molina was a key member of the team’s 2006 and 2011 World Series titles. Molina has a .309 batting average in 50 playoff games over his time with the team. Since the team was unable to sign first baseman Albert Pujols to a contract, the team was able to give the large extension to Molina as well as also adding outfielder Carlos Beltran in the off season.
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