Bengie Molina is in the unique position of getting a World Series ring even if the Rangers lose, as the veteran catcher spent the first half of the season with the Giants before being traded on July 1.
He’s guaranteed some new jewelry and will pad his wallet with a playoff share from both teams, but Molina told reporters yesterday that he’s leaning toward retiring following the series:
It’s more a yes than a no right now. I’m not saying for sure because something can happen in the winter and it can get worked out. But as for now, yes.
Molina wasn’t able to secure a multi-year deal as a free agent last winter and at age 36 would likely have to settle for another one-year pact this time around, but he’d certainly be able to find at least a part-time gig for 2011. However, for all the talk about the importance of his veteran leadership and impact on the Rangers there may not be many starting jobs available for an incredible slow 36-year-old who hit .249/.297/.326.
I’d miss being able to watch a big leaguer with the same body type as me, but one upside to Molina retiring is that it would create a job opening for other Molina brothers who haven’t yet had an opportunity to join the family business of catching big-league pitchers. Bengie, Yadier, and Jose have been hogging all the gigs, but I’m assuming there are at least a dozen more Molina brothers somewhere with equally strong throwing arms and equally molasses-like gaits.
