Cardinals sign C Molina

Jan 21, 2008 - 7:30 PM ST. LOUIS (Ticker) -- The St. Louis Cardinals locked up one of the game's best young catchers Monday, signing Yadier Molina to a four-year contract with a club option for a fifth season.

Financial terms of the deal, which keeps Molina under contract with the Cardinals through 2011, were not disclosed.

But the St. Louis Post-Dispatch reported that the contract has a base value of $15.5 million, and that the fifth-year option is worth $7 million.

"Yadier possesses game-changing ability both in the field and at the plate," St. Louis general manager John Mozeliak said. "We are thrilled to have him signed for the next four years."

Molina, 25, was limited to 111 games in 2007 but batted a career-high .275 with six home runs and 40 RBI. After the All-Star break, he hit .281, the fifth-highest mark during that span among National League backstops.

Molina is best remembered for his game-winning, two-run homer in the ninth inning of the Cardinals' Game Seven victory over the New York Mets in the 2006 NLCS.

"From his dramatic homer in the 2006 NLCS to his handling of pitchers, Yadier has shown that he is a special talent when it comes to the all-important challenges of the catcher position," Mozeliak said.

Last season, Molina missed most of June with a non-displaced fracture of his left wrist, then underwent right knee surgery in late September. The Cardinals, however, expect him to be ready for spring training in February.

Molina has a career average of .248 with 22 homers and 153 RBI in 405 games, all with the Cardinals.