St. Louis Cardinals Best/Worst Case 2016: Yadier Molina

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Oct 10, 2015; St. Louis, MO, USA; St. Louis Cardinals catcher Yadier Molina (4) waves to the crowd before game two of the NLDS against the Chicago Cubs at Busch Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Jeff Curry-USA TODAY Sports /

What could 2016 hold for long-time St. Louis Cardinals backstop Yadier Molina? Will it be a resurgent outburst or an injury-plagued disaster this year in St. Louis?

This article will kick off a 25-post series that will look into some slightly extreme 2016 scenarios for each player off of my “Projecting an Opening Day roster” piece from a few weeks back. The idea is a simple one. I will look at best and worst case scenarios for each member of the St. Louis Cardinals in 2016, then give my prediction for what the season will actually look like.

I will start with catchers and move across the diamond by position. I will jump to the bullpen from there, and close the series discussing starting pitchers.

The best and worst case scenarios that I paint for each player are going to be a bit ridiculous, and I would be shocked if even a handful come to fruition in 2016. The point of the series is to have a little fun, and to examine what the proverbial “ceiling” or “rock bottom” point for each guy might look like.

Hopefully, through this series (and all of our other great Spring Training coverage) we can pass the final days ahead of Opening Day a bit quicker, and have a little bit of fun in the process.

Without further ado, let’s talk about everybody’s favorite catcher, Yadier Molina.

Next: Best Case: Yadi Returns Stronger Than Ever

Best Case: Yadi Comes Back With a Vengeance

Health is going to go a long way in determining what kind of year Yadier Molina has with the St. Louis Cardinals.

In my most rosy of outlooks for Yadi in 2016, the key decision will have been deciding that he needed the second off season thumb surgery, and making sure that it is completely healed before returning. That surgery will prove to strengthen that left thumb to a level that Yadi has not felt since his early days in St. Louis.

The time away from baseball activities this off season means that Yadi’s knees will be as fresh as they’ve been in a decade. Yadi will start the season 100% healthy, and Mike Matheny will strike the perfect balance of playing time between Molina and backup catcher Brayan Pena.

The result is a career year for Molina with the bat. Now that Molina’s surgically repaired thumb(s) have been fully rehabbed, Yadi starts to generate bat speed that he hasn’t had in the past couple of years.

Yadi turns in his first 20+ home run effort since 2012, when he slugs 25 long balls as part of a suddenly juggernaut Cardinals offense.

He does more than just swat long balls, though. In Yadi’s fairy tale 2016, he hits better than .300 and shows off his world-class approach at the plate, drawing 55 walks en route to an OBP near .380.

As a revitalized offensive presence in the middle of the St. Louis order, Yadi adds 30 doubles to his 25 long balls to the tune of 90 runs batted in.

In all, Yadi slashes .308/.378/.535 en route to a top-three MVP finish. He ends up as a top-five finisher for the National League batting title, and he wins the Silver Slugger award for NL catchers.

Yadi catches 55% of would-be base stealers, the second highest total of his career, en route to his ninth-straight Gold Glove and the fifth Platinum Glove of his career.

In a year that Yadi makes his eighth straight All Star Game appearance, the Cardinals win the World Series on the back of their now Hall of Fame catcher, who solidifies a spot in Cooperstown with his magical 2016 campaign.

Next: Yadi's Body Betrays Him

Sep 11, 2015; Cincinnati, OH, USA; St. Louis Cardinals catcher Yadier Molina walks off the field during a rain delay in the eighth inning during game against the Cincinnati Reds at Great American Ball Park. Mandatory Credit: David Kohl-USA TODAY Sports /

Worst Case: The Body Just Can’t Hold Up

With the past couple of seasons taken into consideration, the simple fact of the matter is that Yadi is going to have to deal with questions regarding his ability to last for a full season of baseball.

Entering his aged-33 season, Yadi is no spring chicken, as that strange saying goes. He is going to have to adjust to taking on less of a workload, and he is going to have to listen to his body and know when to back off instead of pushing.

The absolute worst-case scenario for Yadi in 2016 would involve him pushing too soon and doing major damage to his chances of prolonging his catching career into his upper-30’s.

Oct 12, 2015; Chicago, IL, USA; St. Louis Cardinals catcher Yadier Molina (4) reacts after swinging at a pitch during the fourth inning against the Chicago Cubs in game three of the NLDS at Wrigley Field. Mandatory Credit: Jerry Lai-USA TODAY Sports /

Worst-case, Yadi isn’t ready for Opening Day, and he is not happy about it. He pushes himself past what he can handle, gets into the lineup for a few weeks early in the year, then something blows up again and an extended DL stint is the end result.

Yadi spends all summer on the DL, pushes again to try and be ready for a playoff run, only to compound the injury issues that will have plagued him for three straight seasons now.

The Cardinals miss the playoffs without their leader, and Yadi sets himself way back for 2017, with no certainty of getting back behind the dish in the same meaningful capacity as in the early years of his career.

When Yadi is semi-healthy and in the lineup, he presses in his at-bats as well as behind the plate, and struggles so much that the organization strongly considers the difficult choice of moving on at the catcher position.

To compound the issue, Brayan Pena struggles to mesh with Cardinal pitchers, and the unit’s ERA skyrockets.

Frustration sets in, the Cubs run away with the Central, and the sky comes crashing down in St. Louis.

Man, that was some depressing stuff to type right there…

Next: A More Likely Scenario

Oct 8, 2015; St. Louis, MO, USA; St. Louis Cardinals catcher Yadier Molina (4) looks on during NLDS workout day prior to game one of the NLDS against the Chicago Cubs at Busch Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Jeff Curry-USA TODAY Sports /

My Take: Yadi eases back, forms league’s best catching duo with Pena

There is a very real possibility that Yadier Molina is going to miss his first Opening Day start in 11 years. It is my opinion that unless he passes all injury-related tests with flying colors and magically looks five years younger, it is probably not in his best interest to be playing at the beginning of April.

He has a talented backup in Brayan Pena that should do more than a serviceable job in filling in during Yadi’s absence. Yadi cannot catch 150 games any more, that’s just the reality here. Pena needs to assimilate himself with the Cardinals pitching staff as quickly as possible, if the team wants to compete for a fourth-consecutive NL Central title.

What better time to get Pena comfortable with Cardinal pitchers than right out of the gate in April? What better time for Yadi to teach Pena his catching philosophy and to work out the kinks than in the first few weeks of the season?

What could 2016 hold for long-time St. Louis Cardinals backstop Yadier Molina? Will it be a resurgent outburst or an injury-plagued disaster this year in St. Louis?

Best Case: Yadi Comes Back With a Vengeance

Worst Case: The Body Just Can’t Hold Up

My Take: Yadi eases back, forms league’s best catching duo with Pena

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