Molina has torn ligament; Cardinals hope for return before playoffs

Cardinals general manager John Mozeliak said the Yadier Molina injury news was about as good as he could have hoped for, but Molina still has a slightly torn ligament in his left thumb, an injury which certainly will keep Molina out for the balance of this week-long home stand.

Mozeliak said Monday night, though, he was hopeful Molina would be back before the end of the regular season, which has a six-game trip to Pittsburgh and Atlanta from Sept. 28-Oct. 4.

Molina, who underwent an MRI exam on Monday, will be re-evaluated either by the end of this week or the early part of next week.

“We’ll make a decision there to see if we can push forward,” Mozeliak said.

Molina, the Cardinals’ Platinum and Gold Glove catcher, was hurt Sunday in Chicago making a tag at the plate on a sliding Anthony Rizzo of the Cubs. He agreed with Mozeliak that the injury news Monday had been good news.

But for the moment, the Cardinals need a third catcher and have purchased the contract of 27-year-old Travis Tartamella, who was at Class AAA Memphis this season. That was his seventh team in the Cardinals’ minor-league system. He is seen strictly as a defensive aid, owing to his .196 career average entering the season.

“You look at the options we have from a pinch hitting standpoint, the critical part is making sure we have defensive backup,” Mozeliak said.

Last year, Molina missed 40 games with a torn ligament in his right thumb, an injury suffered in a slide at third base. But Mozeliak said this thumb injury was not nearly as serious.

Tony Cruz, who threw out a runner trying to steal in the ninth inning on Sunday after entering the game, will be the regular catcher now. Ed Easley, who has only two major-league at-bats, and Tartamella, who has none, are the backups.

“It’s always tough to fill someone’s shoes when you’re as talented as Yadi is,” Mozeliak said. “But Cruz has had opportunities in the past. Last year ended up being on the postseason roster because of what he showed.

“I think he’s going to take advantage of this.”

Cruz played for an injured Molina (oblique) in the final three games of the 2014 National League championship series, homering off Madison Bumgarner in the final game.

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