Could Cards be seeing more of iconic former player?

This story was excerpted from John Denton’s Cardinals Beat newsletter. To read the full newsletter, click here. And subscribe to get it regularly in your inbox.

When the Cardinals were trying to get Yadier Molina back to Busch Stadium for Adam Wainwright’s retirement ceremony a few weeks ago, the iconic catcher returned few phone calls and left his availability up in the air until the final steps of the planning process were completed. Heck, Wainwright even joked during his tear-filled ceremony that he couldn’t get a phone call or text response from his batterymate of nearly two decades because, well, Molina often prefers to operate on his own terms.

As it turns out, Molina just might have had more on his St. Louis agenda than simply coming back to honor the retiring Wainwright.

Following a recent report by FOX 2 (St. Louis) sports director Martin Kilcoyne that the Cards had started discussions with the legendary catcher about a potential return to the franchise in a coaching and/or advisory role, Molina was interviewed by newspaper El Vocero de Puerto Rico and was quoted as saying: “We hope that if something happens, it will happen soon, and if not, I would still be willing to continue helping them when they need me while I am here in Puerto Rico. They have the knowledge of my willingness [to accept a coaching/advising position].”

Just when it looked like the Cardinals were about to go through their first season since 2001 without Albert Pujols, Molina or Wainwright on the roster, ol’ No. 4 could seemingly be poised for a return following one year away.

The positives of bringing back a winner the caliber of the two-time champion Molina would be aplenty to a Cards franchise trying to pick up the pieces from their first season without him. In addition to working with the pitching staff on pitch selection -- something Wainwright has always said Molina did well simply by outthinking hitters -- he can potentially help Willson Contreras improve defensively.

Contreras, who left the rival Cubs for the Cards and their $87.5 million free-agent contract, was so honored to be taking over for Molina that he wore cleats honoring the star catcher on Opening Day. Later, when Contreras had his starting catching job yanked from him following troubles working with various pitchers on the staff, it was Molina who reached out to offer advice and encouragement. Defensive metrics from his first season in St. Louis showed Contreras to be a good throwing catcher, but one who still needs lots of work on his framing and blocking skills -- areas where Molina thrived while winning nine Gold Gloves.

Every person who managed Molina -- from Tony La Russa, to Mike Matheny, to Mike Shildt, to current Cards skipper Oliver Marmol -- has said the catcher, who used his mind to think several steps ahead during games, would make a great manager someday. Molina showed off his chops by managing a winter ball team in Venezuela and guiding Puerto Rico’s World Baseball Classic entry back in March. So, obviously, there’s still an interest there from Molina to stay close to the game.

The Cardinals declined to comment on a potential Molina reunion on Tuesday, but they are likely looking into whether the 10-time All-Star would be willing to work the entire 162-game schedule or instead serve in an advisory role where he would travel from his native Puerto Rico for Spring Training and to St. Louis several times during the season.

Getting Molina back on board would be a win for a Cards franchise that didn’t do nearly enough of that in 2023, and the team knows it needs major changes to avoid a repeat in 2024. The first new piece might come in the form of Molina, someone Cardinals fans would welcome back with open arms.