Molina was dealt to the Texas Rangers on June 30, 2010, for relief pitcher Chris Ray and a player to be named later, which was minor league RHP Michael Main, following one of the Giants' longest losing streaks of the season and the surprising rise of rookie catcher Buster Posey. The Rangers also received $1 million from San Francisco to cover some of their salary budget space.
Bengie Molina is a Puerto Rican baseball catcher who has played for the San Francisco Giants since 2004. The 43-year-old Molina is a two-time National League Gold Glove Award winner and a three-time All-Star. He has led the NL in hits four times and doubles twice while batting over.300 five times during his nine-year career with the Giants.
Molina was drafted by the Giants in third round of the 1992 amateur draft after playing two seasons at the University of Miami (FL). He made his major league debut on April 17, 2004 vs Los Angeles Dodgers and ended up playing 139 games that year as a backup to John Fox Jr.. In 2009, Molina became the first Giant to win the Silver Slugger Award at his position when he hit.476 with 22 homers and 102 RBIs. On November 10, 2009, it was announced that Molina had signed a four-year contract extension worth $44 million with the Giants.
Molina won a pair of gleaming rings in 2010, one from the AL champion Texas Rangers and the other from the World Series winner San Francisco Giants. Prior to the promotion of youngster Buster Posey, he began the season as San Francisco's starting catcher.
The Rangers were defeated in seven games by the Giants in the first round of the playoffs. Before the series started, most observers believed that it would be a good matchup between two strong teams who had never met before. But after three games went into extra innings, everyone realized how powerful San Francisco was with its lineup of sluggers: Barry Bonds, Matt Cain, Posey and Madison Bumgarner. The Giants swept all three games to advance to the League Championship Series against Detroit.
Molina, 30, is a native of Valencia, Spain, who has been playing baseball since he was 18 years old. He made his major league debut on August 7, 2004, and only missed nine games over the next three seasons because of injuries. Molina became a full-time starter in 2008 and has been one ever since. He has two different jewelry designs on his hand: One represents Texas and the other represents California (because he also played for the Angels before moving to San Francisco).
His wife is named Aimee and they have two children: a daughter named Charlie and a son named Hunter. They live in Santa Clarita, California.
On December 19, 2014, he was traded to the Tampa Bay Rays as part of a three-team deal including the San Diego Padres, Jake Bauers, and Burch Smith. The San Diego Padres traded Joe Ross and a player to be named later to the Washington Nationals. Jose Castillo, Ryan Hanigan, Wil Myers, and Gerardo Reyes were traded by the Tampa Bay Rays to the San Diego Padres. This trade sent Ross to the Rays after he finished the season with the Nationals.
Rivera made his debut with the Tampa Bay Rays on April 17, 2015. He played in 51 games that year batting.275 with 9 home runs and 34 RBI's. In 2016, he played in 99 games for the Rays batting.272 with 11 HR's and 49 RBI's. He became a free agent after the 2017 season.
He ended up signing with the Los Angeles Angels of Anaheim. With them, he played in 79 games batting.292 with 12 HR's and 50 RBI's. He did not play in any games in 2018 but did receive one at-bat during the season opener against the Seattle Mariners when José Lobaton got hit in the head with a pitch and was forced to leave the game. The Angels decided not to use Rivera as a hitter and he became a free agent after the season ended.
On January 13, 2019, it was reported that Rivera had signed with the Baltimore Orioles. He played in 71 games for the Orioles that year batting.264 with 6 HR's and 29 RBI's.
On August 31, 1992, he was dealt to the Texas Rangers by the Oakland Athletics in exchange for Jeff Russell, Ruben Sierra, Bobby Witt, and cash. On September 9, 1994, he was dealt by the Texas Rangers to the Boston Red Sox in exchange for Otis Nixon and Luis Ortiz. He was given free agency on October 30, 1995. He signed with the Seattle Mariners on November 16, 1996. He played one season with the Mariners before retiring.
Canseco was a force at the plate during his time with the A's. In his first season with the team, he hit.289 with 26 home runs and 89 RBI's. The following year, his numbers decreased a bit, but he still managed to hit over.300 with 12 homers and 67 RBI's. Even though he had some down years later in California, Canseco was always an offensive threat who could hit for power. He is considered by many to be one of the best hitters in Athletics history.
After two seasons with the Rangers, Canseco landed with the Red Sox. During his time with the Red Sox, he finished with a batting average of.279 with 39 homers and 102 RBI's. After his time with Boston was over, he finished his career with another strong season with the Mariners. In 1997, he hit.292 with 41 homers and 100 RBI's.
In 2001, Canseco returned to the Bay Area where he grew up.
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