Molina floats coaching interest in IG post; in talks with Cardinals

ST. LOUIS -- Out of Major League competition the past three seasons after dominating it for 19 years as a two-time World Series champion, 10-time All-Star and a nine-time Gold Glove winner, Cardinals legend Yadier Molina appears interested in a return to the dugout as either a manager or a coach during the 2026 season.

Molina, 43, posted two smiling pictures of himself in Cardinals red on Instagram on Thursday with taglines proclaiming himself “ready to return to the field – whether as a coach or manager – in MLB, Mexico or wherever I can continue my baseball career, contributing and giving back to the sport I’m passionate about.”

Molina has recently been in talks with manager Oliver Marmol and new president of baseball operations Chaim Bloom about a possible return to the Cardinals dugout in 2026 as a coach on Marmol’s staff, per a source.

Molina has a close friendship with Marmol from the time when the latter worked as first base and bench coach for the Cardinals. Marmol was also in his first season as manager during Molina’s final playing year in 2022. Molina, who served as a guest coach for two late-season series at Busch Stadium, was given rousing ovations by Cardinals fans each time he brought the lineup card to home plate prior to games.

The former catcher recently told Puerto Rico’s El Vocero that he has been in discussions with the Cardinals about joining their coaching staff in the season ahead.

“Right now, we are in contact with [St. Louis], to be coach of the Cardinals [and] help Marmol,” Molina was quoted saying in El Vocero. “He is still a leader, but [I] would be there by his side. There is nothing concrete yet, but we are on it.”

Molina’s interest in coaching comes at a time when fellow Cardinals legend Albert Pujols has reportedly interviewed for open managerial jobs with the Angels and Orioles. Pujols, who retired alongside Molina in a Cardinals uniform in 2022, played for St. Louis for 12 seasons (2001-11, 2022) and won World Series titles in 2006 and ‘11 and National League Most Valuable Player Awards in 2005, ’08 and ’09.

Skip Schumaker, a teammate of Molina and Pujols on those 2006 and ’11 World Series teams with the Cardinals, was named manager of the Texas Rangers last week. Nick Punto, a member of the Cardinals 2011 title-winning team, has reportedly interviewed for the open managerial job with the Minnesota Twins.

Molina played his entire MLB career with the Cardinals, and holds the MLB record for catching the most games with one franchise (2,184). Pitcher Adam Wainwright and Molina hold MLB records for most wins (213) and most starts (328) by a pitcher. Molina also holds MLB’s record for the most consecutive starts by a catcher on Opening Day, recording 15 from 2005-19. In addition to winning four Platinum Glove Awards defensively and leading MLB in caught stealing percentage four times, he registered 2,168 hits, 176 homers and 1,022 RBIs.

Molina was back at Busch Stadium two times this past season as a guest coach – his first appearance there since attending Adam Wainwright’s retirement ceremony on the final day of the 2023 season. In December of 2023, Molina agreed to a role as special assistant to then-president of baseball operations John Mozeliak, but he was unable to fulfill those duties because of personal family matters back in his native Puerto Rico.

While working as a guest coach for the Cardinals Aug. 8-10 and Sept. 5-7, Molina spoke of wanting to pour back into the game that has meant so much to him. He also reiterated that with his son, Yanuell Molina, headed to the University of Texas at Arlington to play baseball, the time was right for him to return to MLB on a full-time basis.

“[Managing] is my plan and in my future, but right now I’m concentrating on my family because they deserve that,” Molina said on Aug. 8 before a Cards-Cubs game. “But, yeah, in the future I’d like to coach. Step by step.

“The idea is to come here and help the catchers, give them advice and make them better,” he said. “I just want to be here to help. I’m not coming here to try and make things different. I just want to help the young guys however I can. And I just want to enjoy the game. I don’t miss playing; I miss being at the field. But just being here, and being back in St. Louis, that means a lot to me. In this town, they care about me and care about my family.”