José Molina (baseball player)

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Angels broadcaster Rex Hudler (L) and Puerto Rican born catcher Jose Molina (R) pose with a deranged and unnaturally blonde fan during Angels FanFest, February 2005. Players who are not superstars and/or broadcasters with short-term contracts are wise -- though not obligated -- to avail themselves to such team promotional events.

José Benjamin Molina (b. June 3, 1975 in Bayamon, Puerto Rico) is a Major League Baseball catcher for the Los Angeles Angels of Anaheim. At 6' 2" and weighing 220 pounds, Molina is taller and more slender than his older brother Bengie Molina, who now plays for the Toronto Blue Jays. Their younger brother, Yadier Molina, is also a catcher, playing for the 2006 World Series champions, the St. Louis Cardinals. The three brothers are the only in MLB history to win World Series championship rings.

José Molina's first major league team was the Chicago Cubs, for whom he played 10 games in 1999. He joined the then-Anaheim Angels in 2001, but played only a handful of games before establishing himself during the 2002 season as the Angels backup catcher for his brother, Bengie.

Following Bengie's departure from the Angels, José Molina entered the 2006 season as the Angels' new starting catcher, though it was generally expected that rookie Jeff Mathis would also see substantial time handling the team's catching duties over the course of the season. However, Mathis struggled during the first month of the season and was demoted to the minor leagues. Molina's own offensive struggles, however, cast doubt on whether that move will result in increased playing time for him. The promising offensive performance of Mathis' replacement on the roster, rookie Mike Napoli, has once again relegated Molina to the role of a backup catcher.

[edit] Current Contract

2 years, $2.1 million (2006-2007)

• 2006: $0.85 million
• 2007: $1.25 million
• May earn $0.15 million in incentives each year
• $25,000 each for 80, 95, and 110 games played; $25,000 each for 250, 300, and 350 plate appearances
• 2007 salary may escalate based on games played during 2006 season (increased to $1.45 million)

[edit] External links

• Baseball-Reference.com - career statistics and analysis
• José Molina at ESPN.com

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