All-Star catcher Yadier Molina is returning for a 19th season with the St. Louis Cardinals after agreeing to a one-year, $10 million extension, sources confirmed to ESPN.
“I’m so happy, so happy,” Molina told the St. Louis Post-Dispatch before Tuesday’s game against Detroit, confirming the deal was close to being completed.
Molina has spent his entire career — 2,120 games — with the Cardinals. The only two players to play more games in a Cardinals uniform are Hall of Famers Stan Musial (3,026) and Lou Brock (2,289).
Molina, who is playing this season on a one-year, $9 million deal, said earlier this month that he did not want to enter free agency again this winter.
A nine-time All-Star, Molina has been a key component to the Cardinals’ success over the years, having helped lead the team to four National League pennants and two World Series titles. He has a career .280 average with 168 home runs, 983 RBIs and 69 stolen bases.
The agreement between the Cardinals and Molina was first reported by The Athletic.
Information from ESPN’s Jesse Rogers was included in this report.