Cardinals Molina agreed to a $15.5 million, four-year contact. Molina threw out 50 percent of would-be basestealers last year, catching 23 of 46. He’s also coming off a career-best .275 average, with six homers and 40 RBIs in 111 games. The 25-year-old had asked for a raise from $525,000 to $2.75 million in salary arbitration and the Cardinals had offered $1.85 million.
Molina hit the go-ahead home run in the ninth inning of the Cardinals’ seven-game NLCS victory over the New York Mets in 2006 and was 7-for-12 in the World Series, helping St. Louis win its first championship in 24 seasons.
Molina hit a career-best .275 with six homers and 40 RBIs in 111 games last season, missing significant time with a broken left wrist. He’s the younger brother of two other major league catchers, Bengie Molina of the Giants and Jose Molina of the Yankees.
Right-hander Todd Wellemeyer is the last St. Louis player remaining in arbitration. He asked for a raise from $635,000 to $1,325,000 and was offered $875,000.
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