Joe Mauer agrees to extension with Twins (8 yrs $184 mil)

[Big_Matt34]

Good for the Twins, hopefully this ends Sox fans pipedreaming of getting him. Wonder how much it is overall, gotta be somewhat close to 200 million.

http://wcco.com/sports/twins/joe.mauer.minnesota.2.1462891.html

MINNEAPOLIS (WCCO) ― Sources tell WCCO-TV's Mark Rosen that American League MVP Joe Mauer has come to a preliminary agreement with the Minnesota Twins for a 10-year contract extension.

Mauer, 26, and the Twins had been pretty quiet about contract negotiations, while fans were eager to find out if their hometown hero would be staying put at last weekend's annual fan festival.

[Roy Hobbs]

Joe Mauer seems like one of MLB's truly great guys; I enjoy rooting for him.  Even though I'd love to see him on the Sox, in a way I'm glad he's staying in Minnesota.

[Donoghus]

Extremely smart move by the Twins.  Being proactive here.

Minnesota needed this.

You're right, I hope this puts an end to the pipe dreams.  I didn't think it was ever going to be a realistic thing.  Guy just means too much to the Twins organization.

[jambr380]

I would much rather he stay on the Twins than go to the Yankees. I know Victor Martinez isn't Mauer, but he is still very good and this will probably solidify his spot on the Sox for the next couple of years. I consider this a net gain for the Sox, since Mauer had a pretty equal chance of going to the Yankees and Sox and Victor is better than anything the Yankees have for catching prospects.

[Chris]

I have to agree as well that this is probably a good thing for the Sox.  It ends the fans pining for him, and it means that there is no longer a chance he ends up with the Yankees, or the Sox overpay for him followed by his knees going, and the Sox being stuck with a gimpy DH at $25 million per year. 

[Big Ticket]

[Big Ticket]

I have to agree as well that this is probably a good thing for the Sox.  It ends the fans pining for him, and it means that there is no longer a chance he ends up with the Yankees, or the Sox overpay for him followed by his knees going, and the Sox being stuck with a gimpy DH at $25 million per year. 

Once he can no longer play catcher, he will quickly become an All Star 3B... no doubt in my mind.

[MBz]

I have to agree as well that this is probably a good thing for the Sox.  It ends the fans pining for him, and it means that there is no longer a chance he ends up with the Yankees, or the Sox overpay for him followed by his knees going, and the Sox being stuck with a gimpy DH at $25 million per year. 

Once he can no longer play catcher, he will quickly become an All Star 3B... no doubt in my mind.

I don't know about third base, but he'll at least be able to play first at a high level.

[Big Ticket]

I have to agree as well that this is probably a good thing for the Sox.  It ends the fans pining for him, and it means that there is no longer a chance he ends up with the Yankees, or the Sox overpay for him followed by his knees going, and the Sox being stuck with a gimpy DH at $25 million per year. 

Once he can no longer play catcher, he will quickly become an All Star 3B... no doubt in my mind.

I don't know about third base, but he'll at least be able to play first at a high level.

He's 6'5", right handed, one of the best arms in baseball, obviously a terrific glove, and one of the best athletes in the game (could easily be an NFL QB right now and was all state twice in basketball).... I think he could adjust pretty quickly to 3rd base.  And they have their long-term 1st baseman already.

[MBz]

I agree with all of that and I do think he could go over to play third base right now and do so at a very high level of play.  In the future though, once his knees go and he loses his athleticism, I do not think he would be able to play third base.  I have no question that he is one of the most physically gifted and talented players in the game right now, but the scenario given was for when his knees went and he lost that athleticism.

[Big Ticket]

I agree with all of that and I do think he could go over to play third base right now and do so at a very high level of play.  In the future though, once his knees go and he loses his athleticism, I do not think he would be able to play third base.  I have no question that he is one of the most physically gifted and talented players in the game right now, but the scenario given was for when his knees went and he lost that athleticism.

I think when his "knees go" as far as catching, he will still have a few years that they're good enough for 3rd.  And the key is to make the transition before they really go.  Hopefully they use a 1st round pick or acquire a top catching prospect in the next couple years.

They've got Morales behind him, and he can hit, but he is not close to Mauer defensively.

[freshinthehouse]

I think when his "knees go" as far as catching, he will still have a few years that they're good enough for 3rd.  And the key is to make the transition before they really go.  Hopefully they use a 1st round pick or acquire a top catching prospect in the next couple years.

They've got Morales behind him, and he can hit, but he is not close to Mauer defensively.

The Twins already have one of the top catching prospects in the game:  Wilson Ramos.  He should be ready to play in the bigs within the next 1-2 years.

It's gonna be interesting to see what the Twins do with Ramos. 

[MBz]

The Twins already have one of the top catching prospects in the game:  Wilson Ramos.  He should be ready to play in the bigs within the next 1-2 years.

It's gonna be interesting to see what the Twins do with Ramos. 

Trade him to the Red Sox   

[Big_Matt34]

http://sports.espn.go.com/mlb/news/story?id=5016230

The Twins' hometown kid is staying anchored to home.

All-Star catcher Joe Mauer and Minnesota completed an eight-year, $184 million deal, a contract which will inevitably be hailed within baseball as an example that teams like the Twins do have a chance to keep their homegrown talent

[Greenbean]

Wow. He's going to be under alot of pressure with that contract there. It is so out of the ordinary for them to spend that much, he really has to carry that team. What money do they have left over to build around him?

I dunno, I just see them trading him if they struggle and attendance drops. Maybe not this year or the next, but I just cant see the Twins being able to pay that salary for 10 years. What is the precedence for small market teams giving players that much cash?