The Cards have signed Yadier Molina to a multi-year extension:
Molina gets a $250,000 signing bonus, $1.75 million this year, $3.25 million in 2009, $4.25 million in 2010 and $5.25 million in 2011. The deal includes a $7 million club option for 2012 with a $750,000 buyout, and the option increases to $7.5 million if he is traded.
I believe he would have been a free agent after 2009, so this buys out one (and possibly two) free agent years.
Not a cheap deal for a guy known as a very good defensive catcher who can't hit to save his life...he's got a career .248/.304/.349 line, with a 68 OPS+ and a .228 EQA.
That's a lot of money for a great glove, no bat catcher...