Yadier

Molina

We’re kind of confused by this, as Molina was already named a special assistant to the president of baseball operations for the Cardinals after the 2023 season. But apparently that arrangement quietly ended at some point. It’s back on now with Chaim Bloom having replaced John Mozeliak as the leader of the Cardinals’ front office. The 43-year-old Molina has made no secret of his desire to manage in the bigs someday. He will be at the helm for Team Puerto Rico in the WBC.

Molina was looking for a full-time coaching gig with the Cardinals, but since that didn’t materialize, he’ll join the front office for now. It doesn’t appear that he ever considered going to another organization. The 41-year-old Molina retired in 2022 after 19 seasons as a major leaguer, all with St. Louis.

Molina, who will manage Puerto Rico in the World Baseball Classic this offseason, will be eligible for enshrinement in Cooperstown -- along with longtime teammate Albert Pujols -- as members of the class of 2028. The 40-year-old catcher played 19 seasons in St. Louis and won a pair of World Series titles with the Cardinals. He was also a 10-time All-Star selection and nine-time Gold Glove Award winner.

How fun is this? Molina, 40, has a been a big part of the Puerto Rico roster in previous WBCs, and now he’ll get a chance to lead the club next spring. It’s not known yet if he’ll also act as a player. It shouldn’t shock anyone if Molina ends up managing an MLB team in the coming years -- assuming it’s something he’s interested in.

This absence could be related to the right knee issue that has been bothering Molina for much of the summer. Andrew Knizner will start behind the plate and bat eighth as the Cardinals aim to officially clinch the NL Central title on the road Tuesday night versus the second-place Brewers.

Molina hit an RBI single off Dodgers starter Michael Grove in the second inning of Sunday’s series finale after missing four straight games due to right knee soreness.

The 40-year-old backstop missed the previous four games due to soreness in his ailing right knee. He was back behind the dish to catch longtime battery mate Adam Wainwright on Sunday afternoon though.

The 40-year-old will miss his fourth straight game as he is dealing with soreness in his right knee. Cardinals manager Oliver Marmol told reporters Saturday that the veteran will catch Adam Wainwrights’s start against the Dodgers Sunday. Andrew Knizner will be Jordan Montgomery’s batterymate for Saturday’s contest against the NL West-leading Dodgers.

The 40-year-old backstop was also held out of the Cardinals lineup on Wednesday and Thursday due to soreness in his right knee. He’s still considered day-to-day. Andrew Knizner will start in his place behind the dish and will bat eighth against Andrew Heaney and the Dodgers on Friday night in Los Angeles.

Andrew Knizner will start at catcher against the Padres. Molina is considered day-to-day.