Saxon: Cardinals and Molina working on extension

According to The Athletic's Mark Saxon, The St. Louis Cardinals are working towards an extension with franchise catcher Yadier Molina. The 37-year-old backstop is in the last year of a three-year, $60 million deal signed in 2017.

Saxon says that the proposed deal would extend Molina through the 2021 season, and potentially the 2022 season. Molina has been the backbone of the Cardinals since his debut in 2004.

Over his 16-year career, the Puerto Rican has 1963 hits, 156 homeruns, 916 RBI's and a career .282 batting average. Molina was the starting catcher for both the 2006 & 2011 Cardinals teams that won World Series. He has 95 postseason hits and is a career .273 hitter in October baseball.

The Cardinals have two catching prospects in the pipeline that are both believed to be MLB calibre players. St. Louis is coming off of a 91 win season that saw them beat a very good Atlanta Braves team in the NLDS but got swept by the eventual pennant winning Washington Nationals.

Molina is scheduled to be the Cardinals' starting catcher for the 2020 season, catching Jack Flaherty who will be the youngest Cardinals pitcher to start on Opening Day since a 23-year-old Joe Magrane on April 4, 1988.

The Cardinals' season begins in Cincinnati against the Reds, with their home opener scheduled for April 2 where they will host the Baltimore Orioles.

Source: The Athletic

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