Legendary St. Louis Cardinals catcher Yadier Molina is returning for his 18th MLB season in 2021. And he’ll do it in the same uniform.

The Cardinals confirmed on their social media on Tuesday that Molina inked a new one-year deal with the organization. The team didn’t share further details about the deal, but they’re expected to do so in the coming days.

The news represents a happy ending to a saga that plagued the Cardinals for the better part of the offseason.

After the end of the 2020 campaign, the team was non-committal to bringing back Molina. Meanwhile, Molina said he wanted to continue playing and was ready to do that somewhere else if St. Louis didn’t want him. The two sides were engaged in tough negotiations for several months after that before finding a common ground in the past few weeks.

Yadier Molina is one of the most decorated and accomplished players in Cardinals history. Since his MLB debut in 2004, Molina helped the team to two World Series wins while also earning a number of individual accolades. This includes nine All-Star nods and nine Gold Glove Awards.

Molina, who played 2,025 games in the majors, has a career batting average of .281, to go with 2,001 hits, 160 home runs, and 932 RBIs.

The post Cardinals Legend Yadier Molina Inks a New 1-Year Deal appeared first on SportzBonanza.

All-Star catcher Yadier Molina said on multiple occasions that he would be willing to extend his career past 2020 season only if that meant staying with St. Louis Cardinals. However, the lack of baseball due to coronavirus pandemic made 37-year-old Molina took a different approach regarding the matter.

In a recent interview with ESPN, Molina, who is set to become a free agent after this season, said that he would now be willing to play for another franchise.

“I previously said that, if it wasn’t with St. Louis, that I would go home,” said Molina. “If we were unable to come to an extension agreement, that I would retire. But the situation with this pandemic has changed everything. Right now, I’m thinking of playing two more years.”

Molina spent all of his 16 years in the majors with the Cardinals and hopes to retire in St. Louis. But if they are not willing to have him for several more years, he is ready to hit the free-agent market. 

“Obviously, St. Louis is my first option,” he added. “But if they don’t sign me, then I’m willing to go into free agency. This situation has changed my mentality, and all I want to do is play.”

Yadier Molina made his MLB debut in 2004 and went on to become one of the most respected catchers of his generation. Over the course of his career, he made nine All-Star selections, received nine Gold Glove Awards, and helped Cardinals win two World Series. Also, the 1,947 games he caught with St. Louis are more than any other player in MLB history managed with a single franchise.

Despite Hall of Fame-worthy career resume, however, Molina is hoping to build his legacy even more.

“The reality is that this business is difficult for a 38-year-old catcher; my window is smaller,” he concluded. “But I feel ready to keep on playing. I’m in good physical shape. My knees are good; my mind is great. Physically, I’m fine. That’s why I’ve made the decision to play two more years.”

The post Cardinals’ All-Star Yadier Molina Now Willing to Play For Another MLB Team appeared first on SportzBonanza.

Legendary St. Louis Cardinals catcher Yadier Molina is returning for his 18th MLB season in 2021. And he’ll do it in the same uniform.

The Cardinals confirmed on their social media on Tuesday that Molina inked a new one-year deal with the organization. The team didn’t share further details about the deal, but they’re expected to do so in the coming days.

The news represents a happy ending to a saga that plagued the Cardinals for the better part of the offseason.

After the end of the 2020 campaign, the team was non-committal to bringing back Molina. Meanwhile, Molina said he wanted to continue playing and was ready to do that somewhere else if St. Louis didn’t want him. The two sides were engaged in tough negotiations for several months after that before finding a common ground in the past few weeks.

Yadier Molina is one of the most decorated and accomplished players in Cardinals history. Since his MLB debut in 2004, Molina helped the team to two World Series wins while also earning a number of individual accolades. This includes nine All-Star nods and nine Gold Glove Awards.

Molina, who played 2,025 games in the majors, has a career batting average of .281, to go with 2,001 hits, 160 home runs, and 932 RBIs.

The post Cardinals Legend Yadier Molina Inks a New 1-Year Deal appeared first on SportzBonanza.

All-Star catcher Yadier Molina said on multiple occasions that he would be willing to extend his career past 2020 season only if that meant staying with St. Louis Cardinals. However, the lack of baseball due to coronavirus pandemic made 37-year-old Molina took a different approach regarding the matter.

In a recent interview with ESPN, Molina, who is set to become a free agent after this season, said that he would now be willing to play for another franchise.

“I previously said that, if it wasn’t with St. Louis, that I would go home,” said Molina. “If we were unable to come to an extension agreement, that I would retire. But the situation with this pandemic has changed everything. Right now, I’m thinking of playing two more years.”

Molina spent all of his 16 years in the majors with the Cardinals and hopes to retire in St. Louis. But if they are not willing to have him for several more years, he is ready to hit the free-agent market. 

“Obviously, St. Louis is my first option,” he added. “But if they don’t sign me, then I’m willing to go into free agency. This situation has changed my mentality, and all I want to do is play.”

Yadier Molina made his MLB debut in 2004 and went on to become one of the most respected catchers of his generation. Over the course of his career, he made nine All-Star selections, received nine Gold Glove Awards, and helped Cardinals win two World Series. Also, the 1,947 games he caught with St. Louis are more than any other player in MLB history managed with a single franchise.

Despite Hall of Fame-worthy career resume, however, Molina is hoping to build his legacy even more.

“The reality is that this business is difficult for a 38-year-old catcher; my window is smaller,” he concluded. “But I feel ready to keep on playing. I’m in good physical shape. My knees are good; my mind is great. Physically, I’m fine. That’s why I’ve made the decision to play two more years.”

The post Cardinals’ All-Star Yadier Molina Now Willing to Play For Another MLB Team appeared first on SportzBonanza.