And he's angry at the bad treatment he feels he received from his old team, the Los Angeles Angels.
As the Blue Jays introduced their newest acquisition on Thursday, Molina stressed the reason he came to Toronto, noting that it has little to do with finances.
"I took a lot less money to come over here for a reason, and that's to win," Molina said.
Bengie Molina tries on his new Blue Jays jersey. (CP Photo/Aaron Harris)
Molina likes the upgrades Toronto has made this off-season in trying to improve from an 80-82 finish last season. The catcher is the latest of five keynote signings, including starting pitcher A.J. Burnett, closer B.J. Ryan, third baseman Troy Glaus and first baseman Lyle Overbay.
"I've been on winning clubs all these years and I see the same things here," said Molina. "I see pitching, I see hitting and I think the relievers are great.
"It's up to us to step it up."
While Molina appeared happy to be part of Toronto's future, his anger toward Angels brass was palpable.
"The way they let me go without a notice, without calling me, that said a lot. That's what really hurts me," the catcher said of the team that signed him when he was 17.
"I think I built a good relationship with them. They never let me know, they just threw me like a piece of trash."
"I don't think I did one thing to disrespect them at all for all those years," Molina added. "If anything I went out of my way for them.
"I even helped them get Bartolo Colon on to that club. I gave him a call.
"I called a couple of guys for them. And now when I needed a call, they never called me."
Angels spokesman Tim Mead tried to deflect Molina's criticism.
"Bengie was an integral part of the success of this organization for the last several years and everyone involved in this organization wishes him nothing but the very best," he said.
Mead pointed out that Molina was after a long-term contract while Angels GM Bill Stoneman wanted younger players to have a shot.
"We make business decisions and decisions based on personnel," Mead said. "Everyone here thinks very fondly of Bengie and continues to do so."
The 31-year-old hit a career-best .295 last season with 15 home runs and 69 runs batted in. He won consecutive Gold Glove Awards in 2002 and 2003.
"He makes us that much stronger behind the plate," Jay manager John Gibbons said. "He can intimidate you a little bit with his arm.
"You can't just run at will when you're in that opposing dugout."
Jays president Paul Godfrey noted 700,000 tickets have been sold so far for next season, an increase of over 30 per cent from the same time last year.
with files from CP Online
