St. Louis Cardinals catcher Yadier Molina announced Wednesday that next season will be his last.
Molina, 39, made his intentions known one day after agreeing to a one-year contract worth a reported $10 million.
“It will be my final season,” Molina said during a Zoom conference with reporters. “It will be my final season. That’s what I wanted to do. That’s what my agent and myself came to (the Cardinals) and said, ‘I want to stay here. I want to get it done this year.
“It’s going to be my last year. I want to finish here in this great organization.”
Molina was named to his 10th All-Star Game this season and has nine Gold Glove awards to his name.
He has 168 home runs, 983 RBIs and a .280 batting average in 18 seasons with St. Louis. He won the 2006 and 2011 World Series with the Cardinals.
“Well, it’s enough,” Molina said of playing one more season. “I mean, 19 years is a long career, and my position is a tough one. Right now, I would like to do my best and I’m going to train my body hard, but it’s hard.”
Molina signed a one-year deal last winter for a reported $9 million to return to the Cardinals after hitting free agency for the first time in his career.
This season, he is hitting .259 with eight home runs and 57 RBIs. He also has thrown out 17 of 40 runners attempting to steal a base.
–Field Level Media