ST. LOUIS (KMOX) - Yadier Molina is officially a member of the St. Louis Cardinals again – as he was for nearly two decades before becoming a free agent for the first time this offseason.
After the team announced an agreement had been reached to re-sign the 38-year-old catcher on Monday, he was re-introduced as a member of the team in a video press conference on Tuesday. Which you can watch at the top of this page.
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Molina said although there was at least one other team he considered playing for, he had a lot of reasons to come back to St. Louis this season.
"Obviously the city, the franchise, the teammates, all the coaching staff, they wanted me back and I wanted to be back here," Molina says. "Free agency is a process, you go there and it's a slow process. But like I said before, in my mind, St. Louis was my first choice."
He said he was keeping in touch with both his longtime teammate Adam Wainwright and his newest teammate, Nolan Areando this offseason. Molina said he's been talking with the superstar third baseman for the last "two year" about playing together one day.
"When you add Arenado to our lineup, great news," Molina says. "What type of player he is, what he brings to the table, it's amazing. He was and still is one of the best players in the game. I'm happy for us to have him on the field and I'm happy to have him on the corner. I can't wait to have him on the same field."
Molina, 38, a nine-time Rawlings Gold Glove award winner, four-time Platinum Glove winner and nine-time National League All-Star, has played every game of his career (2004-20) in a Cardinals uniform, totaling 2,025 games over 17 Major League seasons. His 2,025 career games are the most of any catcher for just one team.
“We are pleased to announce that Yadier has agreed to continue his legacy career as a member of the Cardinals, and remain the centerpiece of our team,” said Cardinals’ President of Baseball Operations John Mozeliak. “His experience, leadership, work ethic and ability to help bring out the best in those around him are special qualities. We know that there is no one who is more driven than Yadi to get the Cardinals another shot at the title.”
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