Molina's Legacy Cemented With New Extension

With the stroke of a pen, St. Louis Cardinals catcher Yadier Molina cemented his legacy and joined an elite club this past Sunday. Just before the Cardinals opened the 2017 season against the Chicago Cubs, Molina signed a three-year extension, which signals that he will most likely finish his career in St. Louis. By the end of his contract, Molina will have spent 17 years as the Cardinals' backstop. The club might as well make some room for another statue on the corner of Clark and 8th Street.

Molina has been a top two catcher in baseball for almost his entire career. His resume speaks for itself: seven All-Star games, eight Gold Gloves, a Silver Slugger, two World Series rings and four trips to the World Series. That resume along with the fact that he's a clubhouse leader, fan favorite and still the game's best defensive catcher (did you see any World Baseball Classic highlights?) makes the extension an obvious move for the Cards.

However, the thing that stands out most about the extension is what it means for Molina's career. At the completion of his contract, he will have spent 17 seasons for one team. If that sounds rare it's because it is. Players just don't do that in this era of free agency and frequent trades.

Molina can become the third Cardinal to spend the first 17 years of his career in St. Louis. The other two are Hall of Famers Stan Musial and Bob Gibson. Molina can also become just the sixth catcher to spend 15-plus seasons with one team and only 52 position players have ever accomplished the feat, according to MLB.com.

Leaving a team certainly doesn't taint a star's legacy. Albert Pujols left St. Louis for Anaheim and, while his production has dipped, his spot in Cooperstown is still reserved. Molina didn't need to stay in St. Louis to get into the Hall of Fame, but it only enhances what is already an impressive resume.

Still, the extension means the Cardinals believe Molina can continue to succeed. They most certainly didn't sign him just to be a good story and to check a box for his legacy. Molina's game may be fading a bit, but he is the heart and soul of the Cardinals and he's what makes the pitching staff go.

"To me, this is much more than what he's done," GM John Mozeliak said. "What it means to me is what he's going to do. In a way, today is just the next chapter in our future. We believe he can compete at the highest level, and we still feel that Yadi is one of the greatest catchers in the game. He's in great shape. He trains well. He eats well. And he knows what's important about not only today, but tomorrow as well.

"So today is not about a sun-setting career. Today is about us retaining the greatest catcher to ever wear a Cardinals uniform."

Mozeliak is right - the Cardinals can compete at the highest level and they can give the Cubs a run for their money, but they can't do it without Molina. Luckily for St. Louis, they won't have to for quite some time.