Yadier Molina Reflects on What He Misses About Playing in the MLB
As he prepares for his guest coaching role with the St. Louis Cardinals this weekend, beloved team legend Yadier Molina opened up about his feelings on no longer being an active player in the MLB. While he may not miss the physical demands of playing, Molina revealed to team beat reporter Jeff Jones on X (formerly Twitter) that there are certain aspects of the game he does miss.
“I don’t miss playing,” Molina stated to Jones during a Friday interview. “But just being here, back in St. Louis, holds a special place in my heart.”
Yadier Molina Shares His Thoughts on Missing Playing in the MLB Ahead of Guest Coaching Stint with St. Louis Cardinals
As he prepares to take on a guest coaching role with the St. Louis Cardinals this weekend, team legend Yadier Molina opened up about what he misses most about playing in the MLB. While he may not miss being on the field, Molina revealed to team beat reporter Jeff Jones on X (formerly Twitter) that there are other aspects of the game he misses dearly.
“I don’t miss playing,” Molina told Jones on Friday. “I miss being at the field. Just to be here, to be back in St. Louis, means a lot to me. Especially in this town, they care about me. They care about my family. It’s gonna be a great night for me, especially.”
Molina spent an impressive 19 seasons with the Cardinals, cementing his name in franchise history. However, since his retirement following the 2022 season, the team has not lived up to their historic level of play. They have not made it to the postseason since that year and there could be major changes in store once the current season is over.
Current president of baseball operations John Mozeliak will be retiring after the campaign, with Chaim Bloom set to take his place. There is also speculation that manager Oliver Marmol may be on his way out. Could Molina’s guest coaching role be a preview of what’s to come?
Mandatory Credit: Jeff Curry-Imagn Images
Even if Marmol is not let go, it would not be surprising to see Molina back in the MLB sooner rather than later. There is a possibility that the Cardinals or another major league team may look to hire him for an open managerial position this winter. Currently, Molina is slated to manage the Puerto Rican national team at the World Baseball Classic in 2026. If he is not willing to give up that role, he may wait until 2027 to make his return to the MLB.
Regardless, changes are on the horizon for Molina’s former team. Mozeliak and Bloom, along with the rest of the team’s management, made some moves at the trade deadline, including trading away starting pitcher Erick Fedde and relievers Ryan Helsley, Steven Matz, and Phil Maton. Some may argue that they should have made more trades, but for now, the focus for the Cardinals is finishing the season strong. Currently, they are in fourth place in the NL Central. By this time next season, Bloom and whoever the manager may be, whether it’s Marmol, Molina, or someone else, hope to see the Cardinals back in the playoff picture.
