Molina Gets 4 Yr Deal

BleacherBum593 · January 21st, 2008, 11:28 AM

Cards lock up Molina for four years - New contract helps St. Louis avoid arbitration with catcher By Matthew Leach / MLB.com

Quote:

The Cardinals announced Monday that they have agreed to a new four-year contract with Yadier Molina, locking up the catcher throughout his arbitration seasons and buying out one year of free agency.

Molina's deal runs through 2011, with a club option for a fifth year. He would have been eligible for free agency after the 2010 season. The club did not disclose the dollar value of the contract

Quote:

On Friday, team and player exchanged arbitration figures. The Cardinals offered $1.85 million, while Molina filed for $2.75 million. Molina was arbitration-eligible for the first time.

This signing leaves P Todd Wellemeyer as the only Cardinal still arbitration eligible.

BleacherBum593 · January 21st, 2008, 11:52 AM

Cards sign Molina to four-year deal By Derrick Goold / ST. LOUIS POST-DISPATCH

Quote:

Molina has been an elite defensive catcher since joining what manager Tony La Russa calls the “club’s core.” In each season he’s thrown out more than 50 percent of would-be base thieves, and his arm is so intimidating for opponents that many teams stop their running game altogether.

Nighthawk · January 21st, 2008, 11:54 AM

My pleasure revolves around two things:

1) The dollar amount. If it's something crazy like 4/16, I'm going to gag. If it's 4/12 or less, I'm fine with it.

2) Whether we get the Yadi of 2007 (almost league average hitter) or 2006 (couldn't hit water if he fell out of a boat).

Ewttexas · January 21st, 2008, 12:31 PM

Nighthawk. Don't choke too bad. We'd like to keep you around. The deal is 4 yrs for 15.5m and an option for a 5th yr at 7m. No matter what anyone thinks, he is the best defensive catcher in baseball. Yadi was looking for 2.75M but he would have been eligible for 2 more years of arbitration and then he would have been a FA. This locks him up for the next 4, and possibly, 5 yrs. The only downside is that it probably marks an end to Bryan Anderson's days as a Card.

NianguaToad · January 21st, 2008, 02:26 PM

Strictly based on a handful of observations, Anderson is good but nowhere near Molina’s class behind the plate. If he remains in the organization it certainly is a fine luxury to have a second quality catcher, especially considering that 125 games from that position’s starter may be a good target.

Nighthawk · January 21st, 2008, 08:03 PM

Quote:

The deal is 4 yrs for 15.5m and an option for a 5th yr at 7m.

I'm doing my best 'flunky Admiral disappointing Darth Vader' impression. Bleh.

Well, now we have a spectacular defensive tandem with Izturis of guys who might be automatic outs but will get 500 AB's anyway. Actually, neither of them probably will, so I can take solace in that. That said, Yadi certainly is a great catcher...I'm just not keen on overpaying for it, particularly when it isn't close to our biggest need.

bedir than average · January 21st, 2008, 08:05 PM

Is he worth a single win a year?

If he is that's a below market deal.

Nighthawk · January 21st, 2008, 08:10 PM

Quote:

Is he worth a single win a year?

Very unlikely by anything other than anecdotal measures. According to Palmer's bwins, with his bat he costs the Cards a bit over 1 win a year. Defensive metrics are much harder to determine in that regard, but his defensive prowess is in fact slightly overstated by many such countings.

bedir than average · January 21st, 2008, 08:15 PM

1 win = over 4.5M$ this season and was up 5%.

So yes, you are stuck figuring out his defensive value through all those minefields on this deal. For the deal to be at market he just needs to be worth 3.5 wins over the life of the deal.

tulcard · January 22nd, 2008, 05:16 AM

Yadi's bat improved greatly last year. He has always been a "clutch" hitter even in 2006. I'd be willing to bet the improvement will continue. He is the best defensive catcher in the game. If he hits .275 to .280 I'd be content. He will drive in runs. Yadi should also benefit from LaRue giving him the rest needed as the season wears on.

We got a hellava deal....

AutobodyCAD · January 22nd, 2008, 07:47 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Nighthawk

I'm doing my best 'flunky Admiral disappointing Darth Vader' impression. Bleh.

Well, now we have a spectacular defensive tandem with Izturis of guys who might be automatic outs but will get 500 AB's anyway. Actually, neither of them probably will, so I can take solace in that. That said, Yadi certainly is a great catcher...I'm just not keen on overpaying for it, particularly when it isn't close to our biggest need.

for the money, who would you rather have had?

or would you have preferred to just arbitrate with Molina the next year or two until Bryan Anderson made his appearance?

January 21st, 2008, 11:54 AM	#3 (permalink)
Nighthawk Moderator Join Date: Nov 2006 Location: NYC Posts: 2,716	My pleasure revolves around two things: 1) The dollar amount. If it's something crazy like 4/16, I'm going to gag. If it's 4/12 or less, I'm fine with it. 2) Whether we get the Yadi of 2007 (almost league average hitter) or 2006 (couldn't hit water if he fell out of a boat). __________________ "Whenever the word 'fair' features so prominently in legislation, the odds are that it is economically illiterate" -Rich Lowery What am I doing with your tax money? Sustaining the realm according to caprice.

January 21st, 2008, 02:26 PM	#5 (permalink)
NianguaToad Member Join Date: Nov 2006 Location: Wardsville, MO Posts: 31	Strictly based on a handful of observations, Anderson is good but nowhere near Molina’s class behind the plate. If he remains in the organization it certainly is a fine luxury to have a second quality catcher, especially considering that 125 games from that position’s starter may be a good target. __________________ Oh, people will come Ray. People will come.

January 21st, 2008, 08:05 PM	#7 (permalink)
bedir than average Hall of Famer Join Date: Nov 2006 Location: Starbucks Posts: 8,258	Is he worth a single win a year? If he is that's a below market deal. __________________ I'm sorry I left for a while. I needed a vaction, and then work changed substantially. I'm over 50 hour weeks, plus two hours a day of commuting time. A few weeks ago I launched my own blog about Seattle Sounders FC and Life in Puget Sound. I won't be by these parts often as my focus has changed. Sorry about the unannounced retirement.

January 21st, 2008, 08:15 PM	#9 (permalink)
bedir than average Hall of Famer Join Date: Nov 2006 Location: Starbucks Posts: 8,258	1 win = over 4.5M$ this season and was up 5%. So yes, you are stuck figuring out his defensive value through all those minefields on this deal. For the deal to be at market he just needs to be worth 3.5 wins over the life of the deal. __________________ I'm sorry I left for a while. I needed a vaction, and then work changed substantially. I'm over 50 hour weeks, plus two hours a day of commuting time. A few weeks ago I launched my own blog about Seattle Sounders FC and Life in Puget Sound. I won't be by these parts often as my focus has changed. Sorry about the unannounced retirement.

January 21st, 2008, 12:31 PM	#4 (permalink)
Ewttexas Veteran Member Join Date: Nov 2006 Posts: 727	Nighthawk. Don't choke too bad. We'd like to keep you around. The deal is 4 yrs for 15.5m and an option for a 5th yr at 7m. No matter what anyone thinks, he is the best defensive catcher in baseball. Yadi was looking for 2.75M but he would have been eligible for 2 more years of arbitration and then he would have been a FA. This locks him up for the next 4, and possibly, 5 yrs. The only downside is that it probably marks an end to Bryan Anderson's days as a Card.

January 22nd, 2008, 05:16 AM	#10 (permalink)
tulcard Moderator Join Date: Nov 2006 Posts: 884	Yadi's bat improved greatly last year. He has always been a "clutch" hitter even in 2006. I'd be willing to bet the improvement will continue. He is the best defensive catcher in the game. If he hits .275 to .280 I'd be content. He will drive in runs. Yadi should also benefit from LaRue giving him the rest needed as the season wears on. We got a hellava deal....