Yadier Molina means the world to St. Louis Cardinals fans.
He won two World Series in 2006 and 2011, he led the Cards’ rotation and bullpen to be the best they could be, and he formed a strong bond with fans.
His decision to retire in 2022 was hard to stomach for some.
However, he wasn’t the same with the bat and was actually a liability as a hitter.
They needed a strong replacement for their longtime backstop, and perhaps got the best on the market in Willson Contreras.
The Cards signed him to a five-year, $87.5 million contract this week, handing him the keys to the position in St. Louis.
The new signing was unveiled on Friday afternoon.
He will be wearing number 40.
No. 40 #stlcards pic.twitter.com/GlF3jGWWcv
—Derrick Goold (@dgoold) December 9, 2022
Contreras is still 30 and in his prime, and remains a top offensive and defensive catcher.
A Top Contributor In His Prime
The 2022 campaign was one of his best in The Show, as he hit .243/.349/.466 with 22 home runs, a 132 wRC+ and a rock-solid .815 OPS.
Catchers aren’t supposed to be that good with the bat, but Contreras is the exception to the rule.
He is not an elite framer but gets the job done and is more than competent in other aspects of the craft.
All things considered, the price tag is justifiable, as he has a lot to offer to the Cardinals.
His inclusion on the roster and the lineup makes an already playoff-caliber team considerably better.
St. Louis is the class of the NL Central, and having Contreras will only help cement that status.
He was so good for the Cubs that he will likely get his round of applause at Wrigley Field when he goes there with the Cards, though.
