St. Louis Cardinals, catcher Yadier Molina ink deal

ST. LOUIS—As Opening Day arrives, a “legacy” is secured.

The Cardinals and catcher Yadier Molina completed a three-year extension this weekend that will vault the Gold Glover and cornerstone player into the realm of the highest-paid catchers in the game. Calling Molina an “iconic” player, chairman Bill DeWitt

Jr. made the official announcement Sunday afternoon, hours before the first pitch of the season.

That made for an early start to the opening night festivities.

The three-year, $60-million extension guarantees Molina through 2020. The contract starts with 2018, and it will make him the highest-paid player at his position in annual average salary at that point. No other catcher is currently averaging $20 million over the life of a contract.

“There’s been a lot written about this being a legacy contract,” Mozeliak said. “This is much more than what he’s done. What it means to me—it’s what he’s going to do. This is the next chapter in our future. We still feel that Yadi is one of the best catchers in the game. Today is not about a sun-setting career. This is about us retaining the greatest catcher ever to wear the Cardinals uniform.”

Said Molina: “This is my home . ... It’s a big deal—to be with this organization for a lifetime. I’m glad that we got this done.”

The announcement on Sunday, hours before first pitch, ends a week’s worth of negotiations between the Cardinals and his agent, Melvin Roman. The framework of a deal came into place late last week, and there was movement from there on the details. Sources on both sides. After “good progress” on Thursday, per sources, they were described all the talks Friday as “positive.” This weekend, one source with knowledge of the talks described it as “close to complete,” with the details in place.

All that was left was the announcement.

“This is a dream come true,” Molina said. “I always wanted to be here. My family knows that. My agent knows that. My teammates know this. I’m glad we get it done. This is the right place to be.”

He said when his agent told him the deal was complete they “cried together.”

Many of his teammates, including Adam Wainwright and Michael Wacha, attended the news conference, standing behind the media. Molina’s family was also present, including his daughter and two sons.

Longtime ace Wainwright, standing at the door of the press conference room after the announcement, exchanged pleasantries with DeWitt, who was emerging.

“Waino, you’ve got your batterymate,” said DeWitt.

“Nice work,” said Wainwright, commending his owner. “I love it.”

Wainwright, who has pitched to Molina in the majors since 2005, said, “I think you can lump him in there with Albert

Pujols as the greatest players of our generation for the Cardinals,” said Wainwright. “We always want to see those type of players start and with the same team.”

But Wainwright said he never had been worried about Molina leaving. “I had complete faith in Mo and Mr. D. to get that job done,” said Wainwright. “I think they realized what they had in Yadier.”

Mozeliak said the organization would be open to Molina maintaining a presence with the organization once this contract or the catcher’s playing career ends.

During his opening statement, DeWitt pointed out that with a start Sunday night and several more Opening Day starts in the future, Molina will join two other Cardinals as opening day fixtures for more than a decade: Lou Brock and Stan Musial.

“Nice company,” DeWitt said. Molina had set a deadline for negotiations as first pitch Sunday night, as the 2017 season officially begins against the Chicago Cubs at Busch Stadium.