ANAHEIM -- Jose Molina is on the cusp of a windfall, but he needs to be on the field.
If the catcher appears in two more games, an escalator clause in his contract will pay him an additional $25,000 on top of his base salary of $850,000 this season while five more plate appearances will add another $25,000.
But Jeff Mathis started on Friday night, and just two games remain on the schedule. Molina approached the situation like he has the entire 2006 season and accepted the process as just another baseball decision.
"It is a learning experience. I don't say I will be disappointed, but we'll see at the end," Molina said. "We still have three games left. We don't know how things are going to go."
Molina, who signed a two-year contract in January, has already satisfied his incentives for next year and will make $1.45 million in 2007. What remains to be seen is his role with the team. Molina has shared duties this season with a pair of rookies, first Mathis and then Mike Napoli, but both have had their struggles.
Mathis could not get out of the blocks this year and was replaced by Napoli, who was an offensive force in the first two months of the season but experienced a huge drop in the second half. Molina has been mostly steady this year, throwing off a shaky start to have a solid year.
Molina likes playing with the Angels and appreciates getting the opportunity to become a Major League catcher, but he is willing to accept the decision if he becomes the odd man out.
"I really don't care whatever they do," Molina said. "This is a business. If they think they need to trade me to get some people, they've earned the right, but that wouldn't change what I do here or in the field."
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Los Angeles Angels of Anaheim : News : Los Angeles Angels News
Notes: Molina staying positive
Notes: Molina staying positive
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