Buy or Sell: St. Louis Cardinals Early Season Performances

Paul Goldschmidt (46) celebrates with third baseman Nolan Arenado (28) after the Cardinals defeated the San Francisco Giants at Busch Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Jeff Curry-USA TODAY Sports
Paul Goldschmidt (46) celebrates with third baseman Nolan Arenado (28) after the Cardinals defeated the San Francisco Giants at Busch Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Jeff Curry-USA TODAY Sports /
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CINCINNATI, OHIO – APRIL 24: Yadier Molina #4 of the St. Louis Cardinals looks on in the eighth inning against the Cincinnati Reds at Great American Ball Park on April 24, 2022 in Cincinnati, Ohio. (Photo by Dylan Buell/Getty Images)
CINCINNATI, OHIO – APRIL 24: Yadier Molina #4 of the St. Louis Cardinals looks on in the eighth inning against the Cincinnati Reds at Great American Ball Park on April 24, 2022 in Cincinnati, Ohio. (Photo by Dylan Buell/Getty Images) /

Yadier Molina

2022 Stats: .138/.138/.276, 0 HR, 0 2B, 0 RBI, 0 SB, 3 SO, -0.3 WAR

Verdict: Buy

As unbelievable as it may be to many within Cardinals fans, it appears that “Father Time” may be ruining the farewell season from Yadier Molina.

The 2022 season has special significance for Cardinals fans as the trio of Molina, Albert Pujols, and Adam Wainwright have reunited for one final run together. While Pujols and Wainwright have gotten off to great starts, Molina seems to have really plummeted as a player, specifically at the plate.

Molina’s average, OBP, and SLG, have been on the decline the last few seasons, and have fallen off a cliff in 2022. Although it is likely Molina’s average rises above .200 and his OBP sits in the higher .200s in the next few weeks, the Cardinals longtime catcher should be expected to struggle at the plate this season. Molina does remain one of the better defensive catchers in baseball and his impact on the pitching staff cannot be measured.

What remains to be seen as the season progresses is how much playing time Molina loses to his counter part Andrew Knizner, who is off to a hot start to the 2022 season. If Knizner continues to swing a hot bat, Oli Marmol may have no choice but to sit Molina more frequently than anticipated coming into this season.