04/25/24
March 21, 2010
Also Official: Joe Mauer A Twin Through 2018: Whle Nathan is out for the year (see previous post), the Twins lock up catcher Joe Mauer with an 8-year, $184M ($23M per year) deal that will keep Mauer a Twin through 2018. His deal includes a full no-trade clause.
posted by TheQatarian to baseball at 07:52 PM - 9 comments
As a Twins fan who's been to a couple dozen games in the past few years, I love this. I love the fact that the management decided he was worth the money and that Joe decided that he didn't need to make A-Rod money to be happy.
People are saying that the team won't be able to compete with him taking up that much of the payroll, but the Twins are masters of building from the draft and the farm system. Sure, some good players are going to come and go, but I think it's great knowing that one of the core players of the franchise is going to be sticking around. I'll do my part and watch another dozen or more games this year. I'm looking forward to watching the games in the new stadium, especially with the team they have this year.
posted by jjohn24680 at 01:27 AM on March 22, 2010
They have some cost certainty right now, as most of their good players are locked up for another 3 years or more. They just signed Span and Blackburn to long deals, as well -- not as long as Mauer's, but for the next few years. I believe Morneau has 2 or 3 years left on his deal. Hopefully, the new ballpark will provide the revenue they are hoping for.
posted by TheQatarian at 09:08 AM on March 22, 2010
I love the fact that the management decided he was worth the money and that Joe decided that he didn't need to make A-Rod money to be happy.
Yeah, he really took one on the chin by accepting $23M/yr instead of $27.5M/yr...
Great to see him stick around Minnesota and be the face of the team for the next decade, though did anyone really expect the hometown hero to go anywhere else?
posted by MKUltra at 12:12 PM on March 22, 2010
The reason that Mauer didn't get "A-Rod" money is that:
- he wasn't a free agent (A-Rod was)
- he wasn't putting up inner circle HOF numbers (just regular HOF numbers)
- he has an injury history
- he's playing a position that generally doesn't allow players to play 162 games a season
- he's 2 years older than A-Rod was when he signed his quarter-billion dollar deal
A-Rod's free agency deal was the perfect storm of age, talent, financial flexibility and hype. Only Pujols (at the same age) could have had a hope of commanding that kind of money. And even then, he would be playing at a less demanding defensive position.
posted by grum@work at 01:00 PM on March 22, 2010
Great to see him stick around Minnesota and be the face of the team for the next decade, though did anyone really expect the hometown hero to go anywhere else?
Yes. I would not have been surprised if Mauer didn't sign the deal with the Twins, and he got dealt to the Yankees for Montero, Hughes, two other prospects, and cash.
posted by grum@work at 01:01 PM on March 22, 2010
It's a great deal for baseball and an even better one for Minnesota.
posted by Howard_T at 02:53 PM on March 22, 2010
How long until the Twins make Mauer switch positions? Otherwise they might find themselves ponying up $23M for knee surgery towards the end of the contract.
posted by Ying Yang Mafia at 11:50 PM on March 22, 2010
Fans in Minnesota should be glad Mauer's agent isn't named Scott Boras.
posted by dyams at 06:54 AM on March 23, 2010
As a baseball fan (as in a fan of the game, even if the Twins are not my team), this makes me really happy. Just seems right for mid-market teams to be able to keep their superstars. That Mauer is a St. Paul native makes it even better.