The St. Louis Cardinals may have lost star free agent first baseman Albert Pujols after winning the World Series in 2011, but catcher Yadier Molina isn't going anywhere. Contract talks that lasted throughout the offseason came to a head this afternoon when the Cardinals announced they had reached an agreement to sign Molina to a 5-year, $75 million extension.

STL Today adds some context.

Molina, 29, is entering the final year of his contract with the Cardinals that he signed before the 2008 season. Both he and the Cardinals entered spring training expressing hope that an extension could be reached before opening day and that the four-time Gold Glove-winning catcher would not follow Albert Pujols' route to free agency.