Twins Re-Sign Joe Mauer to 8-Year Deal

[BoSox21]

Both Ken Rosenthal and Buster Olney are reporting on Twitter that the Twins have locked up Joe Mauer for 8 years and $184 million.

[italstallianion]

Nice, I was afraid that the Yankees were going to sign Mauer and that I'd have to stop watching baseball. Even though I'd love to have him on Boston, he belongs in Minnesota.

[BoSox21]

A little more confirmation...

 

Joe Christensen of the Minneapolis Star Tribune reports that Joe Mauer and the Twins have agreed to an eight-year, $184 million contract extension.

 

An official announcement is expected tonight, but the deal includes a full no-trade clause for the reigning AL MVP and pays $23 million per season through 2018. The deal took longer than expected to complete, with Twins fans starting to get nervous as Opening Day approached, but ultimately there was never much doubt that the two sides would work something out and the Twins did well by avoiding a 10-year deal that had been speculated about. Mar. 21 - 5:51 pm et

 

Rotoworld

[example1]

Good stuff. Congrats to Joe and to the Twins.

[jacksonianmarch]

8 yrs, $23 mil per with a full no-trade? If VMart stays behind the dish, his pocket will get much larger next yr. I thought Mauer might get a $18 mil per season deal in Minny, but this changes the landscape of the position.

[Palodios]

8 by 23? Sounds about right to me. As much as I would have liked to see him Boston, I seriously doubt they'd pay him that much. Let the VMart negotiations begin, eh?

[redsoxrules]

8 yrs' date=' $23 mil per with a full no-trade? If VMart stays behind the dish, his pocket will get much larger next yr. I thought Mauer might get a $18 mil per season deal in Minny, but this changes the landscape of the position.[/quote']

 

V-mart isnt in the same league as Mauer FYI

[Rdsxmbnt]

8 yrs' date=' $23 mil per with a full no-trade? If VMart stays behind the dish, his pocket will get much larger next yr. I thought Mauer might get a $18 mil per season deal in Minny, but this changes the landscape of the position.[/quote']

 

Trying to drive up the market for a Red Sox player again?

[yankees228]

8 yrs' date=' $23 mil per with a full no-trade? If VMart stays behind the dish, his pocket will get much larger next yr. I thought Mauer might get a $18 mil per season deal in Minny, but this changes the landscape of the position.[/quote']

 

I'm also surprised. I didn't think he would be able to get that kind of money without hitting the market.

[BSN07]

Good for Baseball. Good for the Twins. And especially good for Joe Mauer

[26 to 6]

Agreed. Good for them, this is definitely what's best for the game.

[Dojji]

8 yrs' date=' $23 mil per with a full no-trade? If VMart stays behind the dish, his pocket will get much larger next yr. I thought Mauer might get a $18 mil per season deal in Minny, but this changes the landscape of the position.[/quote']

 

Weren't you just saying less than 3 weeks ago that VMart wasn't much of a catcher and that he'd be a 1B in 3 years?

 

lol

[Dipre]

Weren't you just saying less than 3 weeks ago that VMart wasn't much of a catcher and that he'd be a 1B in 3 years?

 

lol

 

You stole my post.

[yankees228]

Agreed. Good for them' date=' this is definitely what's best for the game.[/quote']

 

I'm curious 26, if he hit the open market, would you have wanted the Yankees to get him?

[TheMino007]

He's getting $23 million a year, so image how much he would have made if he hit the free agent market, he would have made at least 25+ million a year. This guy is not only the best hitting catcher in the league, but also one of the best hitters in the game so he could be a DH when his catching skills decline and that bat will still be there

[Keeper]

Shocker. It was only a matter of time before Mauer re-signed with the Twins.

 

I'd still like to see the Sox part ways with V-Mart, get someone like Kurt Suzuki, and pick up a big bat or two.

[msubulldogs21]

A lot of people can relax now.

[Dojji]

Shocker. It was only a matter of time before Mauer re-signed with the Twins.

 

I'd still like to see the Sox part ways with V-Mart, get someone like Kurt Suzuki, and pick up a big bat or two.

 

I don't know Kurt Suzuki that well, but if Yadier Molina decided to test the free agent waters at any point, I'd be all over him. I would love to have a defensive guy who wasn't a total waste of at bats and Yadi fits that bill better than anyone.

 

Unfortunately we're more likely to wind up hoping that Expo becomes a Yadi Molina type, because the Cards know what they have there.

[jacksonianmarch]

Weren't you just saying less than 3 weeks ago that VMart wasn't much of a catcher and that he'd be a 1B in 3 years?

 

lol

 

He will be, IMO. But, if VMart catches for the majority of the season, then he has some leverage to ask for huge money. Someone will give it to him, but Mauer got about 5 mil more per season than I thought he would. So maybe, VMart's worth has jumped from 10-12.5mil per season to a Posada-esque $15 mil per season

[Keeper]

I don't know Kurt Suzuki that well, but if Yadier Molina decided to test the free agent waters at any point, I'd be all over him. I would love to have a defensive guy who wasn't a total waste of at bats and Yadi fits that bill better than anyone.

 

Unfortunately we're more likely to wind up hoping that Expo becomes a Yadi Molina type, because the Cards know what they have there.

 

Yadier would definitely be my first choice, but like you said the Cards know what they have in him. However, given how strapped the A's are and how Billy Beane operates, I think Suzuki could easily be had. Of course, this is all contingent on replacing V-Mart's bat and probably adding another thumper.

[Dojji]

We do have some young catchers that are supposed to have good upside, that should enter into the equation as well. Expo is probably not going to be ready to take up the gauntlet next year but he's more than talented enough that if he shows up well it put us into a position where we're looking more for a stopgap than a longterm solution. And Federowicz is supposed to be even better defensively than Expo.

 

I would not be particularly surprised given the way our contract situation works out right now, if we signed V-Mart to a frontloaded deal and mixed in more and more first or DH after a couple years to make way for Expo or Federowicz. Besides being a very talented offensive catcher V-Mart's situation with his knees and health actually has a strong silver lining for a team with young catching waiting to prove out. Having a veteran with strong offense that needs days off in a DH league creates an ideal situation for easing in a young catcher. You can use him as a late inning defensive guy, and he will get starts and at bats as well, so you get a good well rounded chance to see what you have.

[26 to 6]

I'm curious 26' date=' if he hit the open market, would you have wanted the Yankees to get him?[/quote']

No, I would have wanted him to stay in Minnesota. If it were clear he was open to going elsewhere for more money, then I expect that the Yanks would have been in it, and I wouldn't have been opposed to adding that kind of talent, especially if it came down to a Boston vs New York bidding war. But with the money it would cost and the depth we have behind the plate in the minor league system, my preference the whole time has been that he stays with the Twins. It's better for the game overall this way as well. If the Yankees or Red Sox got Joe Mauer it would have been a complete joke.

[BoSox21]

No' date=' I would have wanted him to stay in Minnesota. If it were clear he was open to going elsewhere for more money, then I expect that the Yanks would have been in it, and I wouldn't have been opposed to adding that kind of talent, especially if it came down to a Boston vs New York bidding war. But with the money it would cost and the depth we have behind the plate in the minor league system, my preference the whole time has been that he stays with the Twins. It's better for the game overall this way as well. If the Yankees or Red Sox got Joe Mauer it would have been a complete joke.[/quote']

 

Get off your throne of lies.

[yankees228]

Get off your throne of lies.

 

I can't speak for 26, but I would have loved Joe Mauer on the Yankees haha.

[SoxSport]

That puts VMart in the $12-15mil range, from the stats, defense and age comparisons I've seen.The length of the contract is probably more of an issue from the Red Sox view.

 

I've also read that opposition stolen base efficiency against the Red Sox last year was the highest in Baseball history. I don't know whether that reflects on the catcher, pitcher, or just a blatant disregard for baserunners. That will have to change this year, or they will get killed in the playoffs. Expect teams to run a lot against them, especially TB. Also, I think Tito is going to have to adjust his style a bit towards small ball with this club.

[Dipre]

From what i've read, the Red Sox have a "Focus on the batter" policy, so the pitching staff has a big part of the burden to bare.

[Spudboy]

From what i've read' date=' the Red Sox have a "Focus on the batter" policy, so the pitching staff has a big part of the burden to bare.[/quote']

 

Could you elaborate on this please?

[Dipre]

Could you elaborate on this please?

 

I recall reading somewhere that a big part of the problem with opposing baserunners for the Red Sox is that they stress that pitchers "Focus on the batter, not the guys on base", i'll try looking for the place where i read it, and i do recall mentioning that on an earlier post. I shall try to post a link.

[Spudboy]

I had a brain fart. Now I understand!

 

Don't go through all that trouble unless you feel it's necessary.

[BoSox21]

I recall reading somewhere that a big part of the problem with opposing baserunners for the Red Sox is that they stress that pitchers "Focus on the batter' date=' not the guys on base", i'll try looking for the place where i read it, and i do recall mentioning that on an earlier post. I shall try to post a link.[/quote']

 

Smart. They can't stop Carl Crawford either way.