ST. LOUIS (KMOX) - Yadier Molina won't be a part of the Cardinals coaching staff in 2024. That much was known for over a week. However, that didn't mean Molina wasn't going to return to the organization in some capacity.
The Cardinals officially announced that Molina will return to the club in 2024, just not as a coach, but as a Special Assistant to Cardinals President of Baseball Operations John Mozeliak.
“We are excited to welcome Yadi back to the St. Louis Cardinals,” said Mozeliak in a press release. “He will provide invaluable help at the major league level, as well as spend time with our minor league teams in his new role with the team.”
Molina is the second person this offseason to be hired as a special assistant to Mozeliak. Former Cardinals bench coach Joe McEwing also became a special assistant after the club hired former Cardinals infielder Daniel Descalso as it's new bench coach.
The Cardinals did not state in the press release what the services that Molina would provide in the role, however, Mozeliak told reporters at the final day of the Winter Meetings Molina will be in uniform at times and potentially even in the dugout during the regular season.
Mozeliak also said that Molina will
Mozeliak previously told both KMOX Sports Director Tom Ackerman and reporters during the Winter Meeting that Molina commitment to his family was a roadblock from him getting a full-time role on the coaching staff, but he did previously state the team was still finding some way to have Molina around, even if it was just sporadic appearances.
“It will not be an everyday (role),” Mozeliak told reporters at the Winter Meetings Monday. “I think the reason he’s not joining our staff is specifically because he needs and wants to spend time in Puerto Rico with his family.”