Mauer Contract

post from Royals Review on 21 March 2010 08:04:27 PM. © Royals Review

Mauer Contract

Does anyone else think the Twins overpaid for Mauer big time? I guess they probably had to, but this looks huge to me.

Link

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http://www.royalsreview.com/2010/3/21/1384128/mauer-contract

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Eight More Years

post from Nick's Twins Blog on 21 March 2010 08:00:00 PM. © Nick's Twins Blog

That sound you heard yesterday in the late afternoon? That was the sound of an entire state breathing out one huge sigh of relief.

Yankees fans can stop drooling with anticipation. Red Sox fans can stop formulating theoretical trade packages. Mets fans can let any glimmers of hope die and go back to wallowing in misery.

Joe Mauer is staying in Minnesota.

The Twins announced yesterday that they'd signed their 26-year-old homegrown MVP to an eight-year contract extension that will keep Mauer at Target Field through 2018. The catcher will make $23 million per season over the life of the $184 million deal, which includes a full no trade clause.

Jittery fans and bored newspaper columnists had been stirring up some anxiety over the past few weeks, but ultimately there was little reason to believe this deal would not get done. While premature announcements from a couple of prominent local sports personalities proved false, there Twins organization's confidence that this extension would eventually get hammered out was clear on almost every report on the subject. With a new stadium opening this year and fan interest at the highest point been it's been in recent memory, the Twins were not going to let Mauer get away.

With the contract officially signed, the Twins have locked up the reigning MVP throughout his prime years. Mauer is the best player in the American League and he's not even 27 yet, so the benefits of this deal figure to be huge over the next several years. Of course, there's room to question whether Mauer will still be worth $23 million at the age of 34 or 35. There's also room to question how drastic the impacts of dedicating such an enormous percentage of the team's total payroll to one player will be; the Twins are setting an all-time high in payroll this year at $96 million, and Mauer's $23 million would account for 24 percent of that.

But those are discussions for another day. While it's not without its downsides, this is a move that needed to be made. Mauer staying in Minnesota is good for baseball and certainly good for Minnesotans.

The final piece of offseason drama has offically been settled. Now, can we get this season started?

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http://www.nickstwinsblog.com/2010/03/eight-more-years.html

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Season Preview: Milwaukee Brewers

post from Knuckle Curve Semi-Drop on 21 March 2010 07:57:00 PM. © Knuckle Curve Semi-Drop

Well we've got 15 days left until Opening Day, which means it's season preview time. We'll be[...]

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w-milwaukee-brewers.html

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ESPN: Mauer Signs $184MM Extension With Twins

post from Sliding Into Home: A Yankees Blog on 21 March 2010 07:03:57 PM. © Sliding Into Home: A Yankees Blog

From ESPN:

AL MVP Joe Mauer has agreed to an eight-year, $184 million contract extension to stay with the Minnesota Twins.

The deal announced Sunday covers the 2011-2018 seasons and includes a full no-trade clause. It's the culmination of a monthslong negotiation between the Twins and their hometown star.

This is a good move for baseball, and especially the Twins organization. They had to bring their hometown star back and I'm actually glad they did it.

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Tis the season.... baseball season

post from True Grich on 21 March 2010 06:50:00 PM. © True Grich

Yesterday was ?officially? the first day of spring. Personally, I think of the first day of spring[...]

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http://truegrich.blogspot.com/2010/03/tis-season-baseball-season.html

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Season Preview: Los Angeles Dodgers

post from Knuckle Curve Semi-Drop on 21 March 2010 06:46:00 PM. © Knuckle Curve Semi-Drop

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Heyman: "Joba is out of Yanks rotation derby"

post from Sliding Into Home: A Yankees Blog on 21 March 2010 06:44:00 PM. © Sliding Into Home: A Yankees Blog

From Jon Heyman:

Joba is out of yanks rotation derby. RT @JackCurryYES: No Joba-Hughes showdown Mon. Hughes will face Phils. Joba will work intrasquad game

I guess this means they're going with Hughes. I can't say I'm surprised based on both pitcher's performances this spring, but I think this might create another problem with Hughes and whatever rules the Yankees set for him.

And if this is indeed true, what does it mean for Joba's future? Does this mean Joba is a reliever for good?

Joba himself seems to have future closer in his mind. Check out this exchange he had with Mariano Rivera recently via Pat Borzi:

Rivera, even at 40, remains the most feared closer in baseball. Chamberlain was waiting by the door of the clubhouse to be taken to an autograph session when Rivera walked by. Chamberlain, already in a chatty mood, suddenly fancied himself as Rivera?s successor and started bugging Rivera about retiring.

?You?ve got to pass the torch, four-two,? Chamberlain said, using common baseball parlance for someone?s uniform number.

By then, Rivera was nearing his locker on the far side of the clubhouse. He turned to Chamberlain, smiled and said paternally, ?Your time will come.?

Chamberlain answered back, ?You might be 50! I might be done by then.? Rivera, ignoring the last part, responded, ?Then it?ll still come,? with an equally big smile. That did not make Chamberlain feel any better. ?He might pitch until he?s 106,? he said.

While we shouldn't make too much out of a few random clubhouse comments, this does sound like Joba wants to close one day.

If this is what the Yankees want and this is what Joba wants then it's fine by me. I just think it makes the Joba Rules and all the nonsense they've put this kid through look a little pointless.

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Bowker powers Giants past D-backs

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http://www.22gigantes.com/2010/03/bowker-powers-giants-past-d-backs.html

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Dodgers Release Eric Gagne

post from 6-4-2 ? an Angels/Dodgers double play blog on 21 March 2010 06:09:00 PM. © 6-4-2 ? an Angels/Dodgers double play blog

Sorry about that.

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http://6-4-2.blogspot.com/2010/03/dodgers-release-eric-gagne.html

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Rain Causes Yanks To Change Their Plans

The rainout today in Tampa screwed up the Yankees pitching plans so they've had to make some adjustments. In addition to their regularly scheduled game against the Phillies, the Yankees will be playing an intrasquad game at 10:30 AM.

Andy Pettitte, Mariano Rivera, and Damaso Marte will pitch for one team in the intrasquad game, with Joba Chamberlain, Chan Ho Park, and David Robertson throwing for the other. A.J. Burnett will start in the Phillies game and will be followed by Phil Hughes.

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o-change-their-plans.html

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