NASHVILLE, Tenn. - After a brief hiatus, Yadier Molina, the revered catcher who played a crucial role in the St. Louis Cardinals' World Series victories in 2006 and 2011, has officially rejoined the franchise. The Cardinals announced on Wednesday that the 41-year-old Molina will serve as a special assistant to president of baseball operations, John Mozeliak.

The discussions between the Cardinals and Molina began in early October, following his departure from the team after the 2022 season. On his return to Busch Stadium, Molina expressed his eagerness to contribute to the Cardinals organization once again. "We are excited to welcome Yadi back to the St. Louis Cardinals," Mozeliak stated in a press release. "He will provide invaluable help at the big league level, as well as spend time with our Minor League teams in his new role with the team."

Molina's return marks an important milestone in Cardinals history. Having played his entire 2,224-game career with the franchise, Molina holds an illustrious record of nine Gold Glove awards and has been named to the All-Star team 10 times. His 2,184 games behind the plate set a new standard for catchers with a single MLB club, while his 328 starts alongside teammate Adam Wainwright established the duo as the most frequent pitcher-catcher battery in NL/AL history. Additionally, Molina's contributions played a pivotal role in the Cardinals' appearances in the Fall Classic in 2004 and 2013.

The Cardinals' front office, particularly Mozeliak, acknowledged that they underestimated the impact Molina had on the team as their multifaceted catcher. Negotiations for Molina's new role had been ongoing for several weeks prior to the official announcement. The Cardinals will now leverage Molina's wealth of experience and expertise to assist with game-planning and pregame preparations, in addition to mentoring big league catchers Willson Contreras and Iván Herrera.

Contreras, a two-time All-Star, joined the Cardinals last December after signing a lucrative five-year, $87.5 million free-agent deal. As a symbolic gesture of respect towards Molina, Contreras wore No. 4 cleats on Opening Day. Throughout the season, the two catchers maintained an open line of communication, particularly when Contreras encountered challenges with his framing numbers and pitching-calling sequences alongside the Cardinals' pitching staff.

Molina's return to the Cardinals organization as a special assistant to the front office not only brings back an esteemed figure but also ensures the continuity and passing down of invaluable knowledge to the next generation of Cardinals players. With his immense contributions to the franchise both on and off the field, Molina's return is sure to have a lasting impact on the Cardinals' success moving forward.