Joe Mauer for Felix Doubront?

[Spitball]

Felix Doubront Claimed On Waivers

 

By Ben Nicholson-Smith [August 29 at 8:44am CST]

 

Red Sox left-hander Felix Doubront was claimed on waivers by an unidentified team yesterday, Ken Rosenthal of FOX Sports reports. American League teams had waiver priority on Doubront, who has put together a solid season in Boston's rotation.

 

The 24-year-old has a 4.79 ERA with 8.9 K/9 and 3.8 BB/9 in 127 2/3 innings over the course of 23 starts for the Red Sox. He won't be arbitration eligible before the end of the 2013 season (he's a possible super two player) and will remain under team control through 2017.

 

Doubront was reportedly on waivers as early as August 16th. Either he’s on waivers for the second time (in which case the waivers are no longer revocable) or there’s been an erroneous report. Rosenthal has suggested the Red Sox could send Doubront to the Twins in a possible trade for Joe Mauer, who was recently placed on waivers.

[Laser Show]

I love Joe Mauer and this team could sure use him at C/1B/DH, but I don't think this is the right move. Way too much money for a catcher with a history of leg problems. His value at 1B is minimal compared to C.

[rjortiz]

Only if they take Lackey.

[Spitball]

I believe this is the kind of trade the Red Sox should absolutely not make. They just got rid of three bad contracts and shouldn't be looking to acquire another one...especially for a young starting pitcher.

[Designated Hater]

Joe Mauer is ALWAYS an interesting guy to bring up in conversation.

 

Let's get geeky for 2 seconds.

 

I had him on my fantasy team a couple times and while he always SEEMS like an attractive option, he's not. He doesn't produce the way you'd like him too. Yes, catchers have a different responsibility and Red Sox fans have bitched about this year-in, year-out with Varitek and I called it the Varitek Defense ("pal, so what if he can't hit - he handles the pitching staff, well at least that's what they dudes on WEEI tell me). BUT, Mauer needs to be more productive and on the field more often.

 

He calls a great game, is a talented hitter, and seems like a decent guy, but is he right for the Red Sox?

 

I don't think so. Like I've done in recent fantasy drafts, I think I'll pass.

[Spitball]

Joe Mauer is ALWAYS an interesting guy to bring up in conversation.

 

Let's get geeky for 2 seconds.

 

I had him on my fantasy team a couple times and while he always SEEMS like an attractive option, he's not. He doesn't produce the way you'd like him too. Yes, catchers have a different responsibility and Red Sox fans have bitched about this year-in, year-out with Varitek and I called it the Varitek Defense ("pal, so what if he can't hit - he handles the pitching staff, well at least that's what they dudes on WEEI tell me). BUT, Mauer needs to be more productive and on the field more often.

 

He calls a great game, is a talented hitter, and seems like a decent guy, but is he right for the Red Sox?

 

I don't think so. Like I've done in recent fantasy drafts, I think I'll pass.

 

Right, and he is owed $23 million a year through 2018. His contract is one of the worst in all of baseball. Catchers just don't keep producing after too many years of squating, blocking pitches, and taking foul tips.

 

The Sox would be absolute fools to take this guy on after the gift the Dodgers just gave them.

[NativeBostonian]

I'm hearing that the Red Sox have no interest in Joe Mauer. It's too risky of a move especially after you lucked out by unloading 200+ million dollars on the Dodgers. Speaking of the Dodgers, their stupid, they should go get him.

[SoxSport]

Mauer had a big contract year, signed a big contract, then lost his power stroke. Where have we heard of this before? It's so easy for these guys to power up their contract years, then deflate after the big guaranteed contract is signed. Baseball is just set up for this kind of larceny by the players.

 

Stay away from this guy. He isn't the catcher he once was before his knee. And his power has disappeared.

 

Besides, the Red Sox would be nuts to take on another $20 mil position contract, after they just gave away two. I doubt they would give that kind of money to a pitcher, at this point.

 

The other thing is Doubront is one of their best pitchers right now. I'm not sure what he is doing on waivers, except maybe to clear him--but he won't clear. He's too good.

 

Mauer doesn't get this club off .500. Right now, I don't see how that happens. Not unless they discover a few Middlebrooks' in their farm system.

[NativeBostonian]

Felix Doubront isn't going to make it out of the American League. I don't know why they would even put him on waivers. He's too young with too good of an upside just to give him away.

[wetcamelfood]

If the RS didn't want Victor, they don't want Mauer

[resdubwhite]

They wouldn't. Would they?

[Brennan]

Why is everyone still thinking in the mode of handing out big long term contracts to guys that were big stars for someone at one point but show signs of decline already. Stick with kids. If you want to bust a nut going for a big FA signing, make sure he can pitch.

[Behindenemylines]

Mauer's contract run until 2018 at major $$$$$$ so I take a pass on this. He has been injuried off and on the last couple of years. He doesn't have much left in the catcher tank. This would be another contract that could go badly quickly. He is 29 and not getting any younger.

[3rdManOut]

Well lets just say for hinds sake that we did get Mauer. Then what would we do with Salty? Or would Salty stay were he is?

[Laser Show]

Well lets just say for hinds sake that we did get Mauer. Then what would we do with Salty? Or would Salty stay were he is?

 

Salty can play 1B or be DFA'd.

[Thunder]

How about FELIX Doubront for FELIX Hernandez?

[NativeBostonian]

Well lets just say for hinds sake that we did get Mauer. Then what would we do with Salty? Or would Salty stay were he is?

 

It is to my knowledge that Salty's contract is up after the end of the year.

[a700hitter]

Mauer is a great hitter. He would hit .360 at Fenway with about 20 HRs. I have watched him since he was a kid at Twins Spring Camp in Ft. Myers. He has always been an exceptional hitter. In our lineup with the Monster in LF he would be great.

[example1]

Mauer is a great hitter. He would hit .360 at Fenway with about 20 HRs. I have watched him since he was a kid at Twins Spring Camp in Ft. Myers. He has always been an exceptional hitter. In our lineup with the Monster in LF he would be great.

 

Get the Twins to eat some salary and I'm on board. That contract is scarry though.

[a700hitter]

Get the Twins to eat some salary and I'm on board. That contract is scarry though.

At $23 million/year, they should eat some contract, because he is not a power hitter. I think we would be unleashing an offensive beast at Fenway if we got him. This guy has a career OBP over .400.

[Behindenemylines]

The only way Twins trade Mauer is if they get someone to take the whole contract like the Sox got the Dodgers to take $$$$$ in the trade. Mauer is 29 and his contract runs through 2018. He will be 35 by the end of the contract. If you want to keep his bat in the lineup you would have to move him to 1B. He has already started to break down from catching and has been on DL several times the last couple of seasons. Granted he can hit, and would hit in Fenway. If your fine with him at first then he might be of value a few years of his contract.

[a700hitter]

The only way Twins trade Mauer is if they get someone to take the whole contract like the Sox got the Dodgers to take $$$$$ in the trade. Mauer is 29 and his contract runs through 2018. He will be 35 by the end of the contract. If you want to keep his bat in the lineup you would have to move him to 1B. He has already started to break down from catching and has been on DL several times the last couple of seasons. Granted he can hit, and would hit in Fenway. If your fine with him at first then he might be of value a few years of his contract.

He could share catching and 1B to keep his bat in the lineup. I'd have him catch 60-70 games and play the rest of the time at 1B, sharing it with Gomez or some other right handed batter.

[SouthieFanatic]

I'm sorry I recently heard this news late, so why are the Sox passing up on him exactly? That's the news i'm hearing. Is it just cause of the huge deal that he would want?

[Emmz]

Wait, Mauer's declining? Is that what I'm reading? Lol, Target Field destroyed and chance he had at being a home run hitter, plus the near-30 bombs in 2009 was flukey enough.

 

Mauer is a fantastic hitter even without big home run power, and Fenway's gonna have a positive impact on his home run total, if he were to play here.

 

I'm all about this trade.

[a700hitter]

Wait, Mauer's declining? Is that what I'm reading? Lol, Target Field destroyed and chance he had at being a home run hitter, plus the near-30 bombs in 2009 was flukey enough.

 

Mauer is a fantastic hitter even without big home run power, and Fenway's gonna have a positive impact on his home run total, if he were to play here.

 

I'm all about this trade.

I was waiting for you to weigh in. You are the one TalkSox member that has seen the most of this guy. I agre that he is an outstanding hitter. He had one tough season where he had that weird condition where he was fatigued for a while. Other than that, this guy is a hitting machine.

[RedSoxNC84]

Even though we don't necessarily need hitting, and Mauer's contract is pretty ugly.. I wouldn't hate giving up Doubront for this guy, he would be a solid option at 1B to split with Gomez, and a good backup catcher as well..

 

We need pitching more than anything of course, but this would be a solid offensive acquisition for damn sure.

[SCM33]

Wait, Mauer's declining? Is that what I'm reading? Lol, Target Field destroyed and chance he had at being a home run hitter, plus the near-30 bombs in 2009 was flukey enough.

 

Mauer is a fantastic hitter even without big home run power, and Fenway's gonna have a positive impact on his home run total, if he were to play here.

 

I'm all about this trade.

 

Me too, the guy can rake.....and he seems to be a generally great guy/teammate.

 

Even if he cant catch anymore, he can still hit......and 1B is open, as well as DH in the next couple of years.

 

If MIN can eat like 5M a year to knock that down to the 18M range......Im all for it.

[example1]

Even though we don't necessarily need hitting, and Mauer's contract is pretty ugly.. I wouldn't hate giving up Doubront for this guy, he would be a solid option at 1B to split with Gomez, and a good backup catcher as well..

 

We need pitching more than anything of course, but this would be a solid offensive acquisition for damn sure.

 

I'm pretty sure the Sox need hitting too. A team can always use offense and the Sox just lost their best hitter. This is basically an Ellsbury, Pedroia, Middlebrooks team right now, with add-ons like Ross, Ciriaco, and occasionally Salty/Lavarnway playing supporting roles. I'd say both the lineup and the rotation need work.

 

Mauer offers a number of interesting options. His cost is really huge, but as a700hitter put it, his skill set around OBP is really phenomenal. He can catch. He can play some 1B. He's supposedly a natural leader.

 

What would make a deal like that realistic for the Sox? Well, obviously some salary relief would be nice. I don't think the Sox will get the Twins to pay any substantial portion of his contract to get rid of Mauer. Also, the prospects would likely be prohibitive. I'm not for the Sox sending a substantial package for that much money.

 

If they could deal a group of 2nd tier prospects and get, say, $15m, I'd consider it. $15m shaves $2.5m a year off every year, or makes it effectively a $20.5m salary. Twins won't do that.

 

Anything beyond that I can't see the Sox doing. It effectively banks their Carl Crawford money + prospects on another player who has a questionable health history and a SLG under .500. Anyone should want Mauer, but not if it limits the franchise moving forward.

[example1]

Even though we don't necessarily need hitting, and Mauer's contract is pretty ugly.. I wouldn't hate giving up Doubront for this guy, he would be a solid option at 1B to split with Gomez, and a good backup catcher as well..

 

We need pitching more than anything of course, but this would be a solid offensive acquisition for damn sure.

 

Doubront + prospect + some salary relief and sign me up. I like Doubront, but this team isn't going to win if he's a really substantial part of the rotation. If he's a #4 or 5 then he can be replaced.

[Woese]

I live in Minnesota right now and Mauer is the franchise for the Twins. He loves being in Minnesota so chances are, I doubt he would allow a trade (he has a no-trade clause I believe).

 

Additionally, he makes a lot of money. I'm going to sound like a broken record from my previous post in the Josh Hamilton thread but he doesn't fit the new direction the Sox want to take in regard to players who make too much money.

 

Joe Mauer won't be a catcher for much longer and the fact is, the Twins paid him the money he makes because he's amazing at catcher. Put him at first base or the OF he doesn't stack up well to his contemporaries who are paid at a similar level. He'd essentially be a guy whose paid 20 + million are year to hit at best 12 - 13 home runs with an amazing average. For him to make that much, he should be hitting closer to 30 + home runs a year.

 

Also, yet again, he's from Minnesota - and there's a big difference between Minnesota and New England. I know this first hand as I have spent 16 years in Boston and now 6 in Minnesota.