photo: Francisco Peña and Yadier Molina (Steve Mitchell/USA TODAY Sports)
The fact that catcher Francisco Peña is returning to the St. Louis Cardinals for a second season in 2019 is hardly a surprise. Once prospect Carson Kelly was traded to Arizona as part of the Paul Goldschmidt deal, the need for a veteran reserve behind Yadier Molina was evident.
The surprise was that Molina himself announced the transaction – via quotes in an article run in the Puerto Rico publication El Nuevo Dia. In the article, Molina also provided an update on his recent knee surgery and stated that while he would be open to an extension with St. Louis following the 2020 season, if one was not offered, he would retire rather than play elsewhere. The Peña transaction was later confirmed by several media sources, including Mark Saxon of The Athletic.
Peña, 29, will be following his path of last year. The native of the Dominican Republic signed a minor-league contract with the Cardinals on December 8, 2017, and at the end of spring training, was added to both the 40-man and 25-man rosters.
On November 1, he was outrighted – removed from the 40-man roster – so that the Cardinals could use the roster spot to protect a prospect from the Rule 5 draft. Peña declared minor league free agency the next day.
In 2018, Peña was rarely used, and while a good catcher, his bat is anemic. His slash line was just .203/.239/.271/.510 for wRC+ of 32 and a negative 0.7 fWAR in 142 plate appearances over 58 games with St. Louis last season.
Prior to joining the Cardinals, the offspring of former St. Louis catcher Tony Peña appeared in 19 games with the Baltimore Orioles in 2016-2017 and had two strong years with the Royals’ Triple-A affiliate that included very brief cups of coffee with Kansas City in 2014-2015.
It appears Peña will need a new uniform number, as while he was a free agent, Paul Goldschmidt was acquired in trade and took his old no. 46.
The Cardinals catchers at Triple-A Memphis for 2019 are stacking up to be prospect Andrew Knizner and veteran journeyman Joe Hudson, signed earlier this winter. Knizner, recently named The Cardinal Nation’s sixth-ranked prospect, could be ready to serve as Molina’s reserve in 2020.
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