Reading Time 5 Minutes:

The Cardinals' deal with Yadier Molina is a win-win for both parties. Molina wanted to stay in St. Louis and now he will. The Cardinals will continue to benefit from his catching excellence through 2017. They have kept a player that's vital to their core nucleus. They are not handing a five-year deal to an old, declining player. Molina will be 35 when this deal runs out, so the team can be reasonably assured that they'll be paying for more of Molina's prime years.

Some fans already are whining over the Cardinals' keeping Molina in place with a five-year deal that will average almost $15 million per season. I prefer to take the long view in the Cardinals' investment in Molina.

I'm taking into account what they have been playing him over the last five seasons, including the $7 million salary this year. Including 2012 Molina will receive a total of $21.5 million for the past five seasons.

Or, if you prefer: if you include this season's salary, the Cardinals will have Molina behind the plate for the next six seasons at an AAV of $13.6 million. (Does that ease the sticker shock at all for you?)

If in fact the Molina extension averages $15 million a year, it means that the Cardinals will lay out $75 million for five years beginning in 2013. But if we take the entire investment in Molina over his last two contracts, it comes down to this: the Cardinals will have received 10 years of vintage Molina performance, with two World Series titles already in the safe, for an average of $9.6 million per year.

I don't know why any reasonable person would complain about the deal. This is an elite player. A winning player. And great Cardinal with a championship pedigree. Since the beginning of the 2005 postseason Molina has played in 46 postseason games, tied for the most among MLB players. He has been a vital presence in the team's success. And he's been a good value in terms of WAR. (More on that in an upcoming blog.)

Since becoming the Cardinals' regular catcher in 2005, Molina has won four Gold Gloves and been named to multiple All-Star teams. He's batted .315 with a .363 onbase percentage and a .429 slugging percentage in 46 postseason games. And of course, he's shut down the opposing team's running game, regular season and playoffs.

I've always been fascinated by the allocation of money given to catchers. We've been told forever that it's a crucial position, important to a team's defense, a position that forms part of the up-the-middle spine that's important to all teams. Fans and media don't blink or fret when a team gives $12 million, $14 million or $15 million a year to a No. 3 or No. 4 starter. Starting pitchers are important, obviously. But a starter gives you 30, 35 starts per season.

Molina will catch around 130, 135 games per year. He's an extension of the coaching staff. He runs games, calls pitches, takes charge and is undoubtedly a valuable component in the success of the pitching staff.  And as we know, he virtually wipes out the other side's stealing game.

Oh, and Molina is also coming off his best year offensively. And yet people make frowny faces when we talk about investing this kind of money in a catcher. Even though this particular catcher is extremely important piece of this operation. And we get heartburn because the Cardinals want to give him No. 3 or No. 4 starter money? Please. 

Moving On ... 

* The Rams, as expected, rejected the CVC's initial plan to spruce up The Edward Jones Dome. The key words being: as expected. So let's hope the Chicken Littles among the fringe media and some of the more hysterical fans can hold off from rushing into the streets in an instantaneous state of full-blown arousal. Please remain calm. Please refrain from fear mongering. Please take sedatives if it helps. This is a necessary step in the negotiating process, and nothing more. The Rams' choice to decline merely moves us closer to actual negotiations. The Rams have until May 1 to make a counteroffer to the CVC. This gives both sides time to discuss the situation, and see if they can find common ground. And if the CVC rejects the Rams' counteroffer -- as I would expect -- it's not the end of the game. I don't think anything can really be accomplished until all of these procedural datelines are out of the way. That's when the real talks will begin.

* In the interim, the Los Angeles chatter is inevitable and unavoidable, but you'd be wise to filter it if so inclined to do so. I don't think Stan Kroenke will move the Rams. I know that the NFL is against a Rams' move. I would bet that Kroenke won't move the Rams. Guarantees? No. That's never the case. But Kroenke is going to extract what he can from the CVC, simply because he has the contractual right to do so. The Rams actually have a sweet lease deal at The Dome, and Kroenke knows it. (That's the little secret that no one tells you about.) He'll try to build on that strength by securing some other goodies. Plus, the Dome could use some more fan-friendly features, and Kroenke will push for that, as he should. Contrary to popular belief, a Kroenke demand for a new stadium (as soon as possible) isn't likely. A cooperative long-range plan for a stadium is more likely.

Moving On ...

* Tonight's stop in Vancouver is one of the most highly anticipated Blues' games of the season. Well, at least to me it is. The Blues, a resounding 4-0 on the current road trip, have a chance to move into first place overall in the NHL with a win over the formidable Canucks. Given the inherent unfairness of the Blues' schedule, this will be a difficult assignment for the visitors. The Canucks are waiting for the Blues, as they Blues play the second in yet another sequence of consecutive games on back-to-back nights.

* The Blues, missing four injured regulars, are competing with an underdog's pluck. They are developing a winning road personality, finding various ways to win, and rebounding from adversity during tense stretches of games. In this four-game stretch, they've bended at times, but have proven to be unflappable. But there is no time to rest in this league, no time to take it easy, no time to start planning a parade in reaction to a great stretch of road play. The Blues' new strength on the road will be tested tonight. I cannot wait for this one.

* The Blues are 2-0-1 against Vancouver this season, and won 3-0 in B.C. back on Oct. 26. Brian Elliott, in goal tonight, had a 32-save shutout in that one. But the Blues' offensive star in that game was Alex Steen, who scored twice. And he's been out since late December to deal with a serious concussion. In the most recent meeting between the teams, the Canucks snatched at OT victory at Scottrade on Jan. 12. Vancouver is 12-2-3 at home since Dec. 4

* Andy McDonald has been a marvel for the Blues since his return from concussion-related issues that kept him out of the lineup between mid-October to Feb. 12. During the Blues' four-game road win streak, not-so-old McDonald has two goals and two assists, has played the most minutes of any STL forward, has won 71 percent of his faceoffs, and is 2 for 2 in shootout attempts ... and both of his shootout goals were paramount in the victories at Nashville and Winnipeg. McDonald has also logged the most power play time by a Blues forward on this trip, and he's third in PK ice time among the team's forwards. In other words: McDonald is doing it all. The Ken Hitchcock system and uptempo style is a wonderful fit for McDonald's skill set.

Thanks for reading ...

-Bernie