Mauer: UPDATED -8 year extension with the Twins.

[JMW IV]

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

Sources: Mauer, Twins Agree To 10-Year Contract
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.

This is Mauer's final year of his current contract and manager Ron Gardenhire said Friday he was confident that both sides would come together and strike a deal.

Mauer's current salary this season is $12.5 million. Contract details about his new salary were not immediately released.

Mauer became only the second catcher in 33 years to win the coveted AL MVP award, finishing first in an almost unanimous vote in November.

Mauer set a major league record for highest batting average by a catcher and won his third batting title, becoming the first repeat batting champion since Nomar Garciaparra in 1999-00.

He's been voted to the All-Star team three times and won his second straight AL Gold Glove award.

Mauer was born in St. Paul and would've been a free agent after the 2010 season.

Rosen will have all the latest details on WCCO 4 News at 5 p.m., 6 p.m. and 10 p.m.

[JCA-CrystalCity]

Awesome.  He's not a Yankee!

[blue911]

Awesome.  He's not a Yankee!

Has Ron Shapiro ever dealt with the Yankees?

[PANatsFan]

Interesting to see if there's deferred compensation or if the contract is backloaded, and if he earns his keep throughout the 10 years.

[HalfSmokes]

Interesting to see if there's deferred compensation or if the contract is backloaded, and if he earns his keep throughout the 10 years.

Not a chance that he earns it throughout 10 years, but by streching it out, it lets them pay him what he wants without killing the budget.

[soxfan59]

Hmmm.  Still no contract, and spring training has begun.  I bet this doesn't happen.

[tomterp]

Hmmm.  Still no contract, and spring training has begun.  I bet this doesn't happen.

I'm sure that would be damn disappointing to you, eh?   

[JCA-CrystalCity]

Hmmm.  Still no contract, and spring training has begun.  I bet this doesn't happen.

Best interests of baseball would have this deal done.

[HalfSmokes]

Best interests of baseball would have this deal done.

of baseball yes, of the Twins, maybe no- 10 years at close to $20 million per could cripple them long term especially towards the tail end when/if he is no longer effective behind the plate. I was reading that one of the justifications behind earlier multi-year huge dollar contracts, was that as the player tailed off, salary inflation would mean that the contract wouldn't turn into an albatross. Now salary inflation has pretty much disappeared, and if it doesn't come back, the Twins would really regret this deal in six or seven years

[JCA-CrystalCity]

Deal done for Mauer: 8 years/$144 million
E-mail|Link|Comments (9) Posted by Peter Abraham, Globe Staff March 21, 2010 05:43 PM

New deal starts next season and includes a full no-trade clause. Good deal for him and the team, especially if he's still catching by the end of the contract.

The deal will be announced at 7 p.m.

http://www.boston.com/sports/baseball/redsox/extras/extra_bases/2010/03/deal_done_for_m.html

Please correct the topic to 8 years

[KnorrForYourMoney]

Hmmm.  Still no contract, and spring training has begun.  I bet this doesn't happen.

[Lintyfresh85]

Wonder how much of that money he will actually 'earn'.

I love the guy, I think he's a class act... but for that kind of money, all on a catcher... I just don't see him being worth it late in his career.

[Minty Fresh]

but for that kind of money, all on a catcher...

Yeah, those catchers are a dime a dozen.

[imref]

wow.  BTW, I read the wall is 12 ft closer in the new stadium to help him out.

[Lintyfresh85]

Yeah, those catchers are a dime a dozen.

You know that's not what I meant.

[JCA-CrystalCity]

Wow - $184m, not $144m!  I guess he has to be a full time catcher through age 32 (6 years) to make the number make sense.

[UMDNats]

Phew. Baseball is saved...for right now.

[DPMOmaha]

Phew. Baseball is saved...for right now.

Yep.  Good for Mauer, good for the Twins, good for baseball.

[HalfSmokes]

Yep.  Good for Mauer, good for the Twins, good for baseball.

I would say Good for Mauer, good for baseball, jury is still out on the Twins

[DPMOmaha]

Why wouldn't it be good for the Twins?

[Lintyfresh85]

Because by the end of the contract... its not likely to be financially worth it to them.

[HalfSmokes]

Why wouldn't it be good for the Twins?

the yankees can afford to whiff on a contract like that (Jason Giambi for instance or Carl Pavano), look at how long it took the Rockies to come back from botched contracts (mostly Mike Hampton, but others as well). As long as he's produdcive its fine, but if his knees or back force him to DH (Morneau is blocking first), you have a DH who is one of the highest paid players in the game. If his back gets to the point the it effects the bat, or if he is out for portions of seasons, you have a large chucnk of team salary that is not producing.

[tomterp]

Why wouldn't it be good for the Twins?

Because having one player tie up 20-25% of your team payroll means an awful lot of eggs in one basket.  High risk.

[blue911]

the yankees can afford to whiff on a contract like that (Jason Giambi for instance or Carl Pavano), look at how long it took the Rockies to come back from botched contracts (mostly Mike Hampton, but others as well). As long as he's produdcive its fine, but if his knees or back force him to DH (Morneau is blocking first), you have a DH who is one of the highest paid players in the game. If his back gets to the point the it effects the bat, or if he is out for portions of seasons, you have a large chucnk of team salary that is not producing.

Can't all of these arguments be used against any long term deal? Frankly I think it's better than the Holiday deal.

[HalfSmokes]

Can't all of these arguments be used against any long term deal? Frankly I think it's better than the Holiday deal.

yes, but certain teams can afford to make mistakes and others can't.