JUPITER, Fla. • The agent for Gold Glove-winning catcher Yadier Molina met with the Cardinals and has re-engaged the club in talks the past two days about a contract extension, sources confirmed to The Post-Dispatch.

Molina said at the start of this week that negotiations had stopped "for now." At the time he said they could restart at any point.

Earlier this week, the two sides appeared to be significantly apart, but the recent talks have created more momentum for a deal.

His agent, Melvin Roman, visited camp twice this week, and Post-Dispatch baseball writer Joe Strauss confirmed that Roman and general manager John Mozeliak did begin talking again about a contract.

Roman told Strauss that Molina's preference is to have an extension in place before opening day or not discuss the matter again until after the season.

The two sides exchanged parameters on a deal earlier this year, and the difference between those numbers led to a temporary pause in discussions.

Recent talks have gone in a positive direction, a source confirmed.