(Photo Credit: http://www.todaysknuckleball.com/)
The 2016 will mark catcher Yadier Molina‘s 13th season as a member of the St. Louis Cardinals. In 2004, he was called up to the majors in order to serve as Mike Matheny‘s back-up. Interestingly enough, Matheny eventually became the manager of the Cardinals in 2012.
Since 2004, the St. Louis Cardinals have won two World Series titles, made the playoffs eight times, and have remained a top threat in the National League as well as Major League Baseball in general. Molina himself has also had his share of accolades. Some of the most notable ones include:
- Seven-time All-Star (2009-15)
- Nine-time Gold Glove Award winner (2008-15)
- Four-time National League Platinum Glove (2011-12, 2014-15)
- One-time Silver Slugger (2013)
For over a decade, Molina has been a constant force in baseball, throwing out over 44% of base-runners and picking off 52 runners. And while he started his career as a light hitter, he gradually improved, hence his Silver Slugger Award in 2013.
But now, as time has gone on, the question has begun to surface: how many years does Molina have left?
At 32 years old, the veteran has struggled with injuries over the years, although the lowest amount of plate appearances he’s had in his career is 396. Late last season, he tore two ligaments in his thumb during a play at the plate against the Chicago Cubs. Molina was not the same the rest of the season. And while he is scheduled to get his cast off this month, it doesn’t change the fact that Molina isn’t getting any younger, and the injuries keep on coming.
Because of his injuries, even his offensive production has dipped over the course of the past few seasons:
- 2013: .319 batting average, 12 HRs, 80 RBI (136 games)
- 2014: .282 batting average, 7 HRs, 38 RBI (110 games)
- 2015: .270 batting average, 4 HRs, 61 RBI (136 games)
This doesn’t mean the Cardinals need to find a replacement by next month, or by April. What is does mean is that they need to find one sooner than they might have hoped, because the last thing they need is to have their most consistent position be unprepared for when the day comes that Molina actually does retire, whenever that may be.
