Molina signs five-year extension with Cardinals

All-Star catcher Yadier Molina will be wearing the birds and the bat until 2017.

The St. Louis Cardinals announced on Thursday that Molina, a four-time Gold Glove winner, had signed a five-year, $75 million contract, with a mutual option for a sixth season.

The 29-year-old Molina has spent his entire career with the Cardinals. General manager John Mozeliak says the team considers him to be the best catcher in baseball.

Molina won the fan-determined Platinum Glove award last year, which pitted the best defensive players in each position against each other. 2011 was also his best season offensively - he hit .305 with 14 home runs and 65 RBI, and added 12 RBI during the team's World Series title run.