In the ever-evolving landscape of Major League Baseball, Yadier Molina, the iconic retired catcher, steps into the 2024 season with a fresh role as the St. Louis Cardinals’ special assistant to the president of baseball operations.
The exact nature of Molina’s day-to-day responsibilities had remained somewhat hazy until recently. However, during an insightful on-stage interview conducted by Benjamin Hockman of STL Today, Cardinals’ President of Baseball Operations, John Mozeliak, offered much-needed clarity:
“He’s going to be someone that gets his feet wet,” remarked Mozeliak.
With the Cardinals’ manager, Oli Marmol, facing the final year of his contract following a challenging 71-91 season, questions naturally arose about potential conflicts. Molina, a future managerial hopeful, expressed his ambitions to lead an MLB team. When asked if he foresaw any potential friction, Mozeliak responded:
“Not really, but I can understand why there would be a question. It could become a reality, we’ll find out, but I don’t believe it’s prudent to approach this situation that way. I’m a staunch supporter of Oli; I have faith in him. However, we must acknowledge that last year did not go as planned. Adjustments are needed. We need to approach things differently. Hopefully, we can achieve success.”
Mozeliak went on to elaborate on Molina’s upcoming role:
“I plan on sitting down with him to provide insight into how we assess player acquisitions and the value we place on players. This will serve as his introduction to the business side of the sport. Naturally, any assistance he can offer our younger catchers will be warmly embraced.”
The Cardinals concluded the previous season with a less-than-stellar record of 71-91, placing them at the bottom of the NL Central standings.