Reports: Cardinals 'closing in' on deal with C Willson Contreras

The St. Louis Cardinals are "closing in" on an agreement with free-agent catcher Willson Contreras, The Athletic reported Wednesday.

MLB Network reported the sides were working on a five-year contract.

Should the deal come to fruition, Contreras would succeed longtime catcher Yadier Molina behind the plate for the Cardinals. Molina retired after this past season.

Contreras, 30, declined the one-year qualifying offer of