Mauer remains a Twin

[Small Town Guy]

Given the numbers involved and the fact that they're stuck with him no matter what in 2017, is a position switch inevitable, or at least even more utilization of the DH? It's hard to imagine laying out $20M+ in eight years for any catcher.

The stat guys probably have a better answer than I do on this. I can definitely see a position change eventually, but isn't that part of the reason he got so much money, is because he's a catcher, and isn't that one of the big reasons they want to keep him? If he's a DH putting up his numbers, it's impressive. Same with first baseman. But it's not earth-shattering or anything. What makes him so valuable is that he's also one of the best defensive catchers in the game and gives you those hitting numbers at that position. 20 million a year for eight years seems like a lot for a catcher, but it seems like even more for a first baseman who only hits 20-30 homers a year.

Again, I might be completely wrong with that train of thought.

As a native, glad to see he stayed. It did remind me of Kirby's big deal when he stayed. With the state boys tourney beginning in Minnesota, I'm reminded that Mauer was also a hell of a basketball player; I think he averaged 20 a game for Cretin when they went to state. But that was his third-best sport.

 

[JC]

Given the numbers involved and the fact that they're stuck with him no matter what in 2017, is a position switch inevitable, or at least even more utilization of the DH? It's hard to imagine laying out $20M+ in eight years for any catcher.

The stat guys probably have a better answer than I do on this. I can definitely see a position change eventually, but isn't that part of the reason he got so much money, is because he's a catcher, and isn't that one of the big reasons they want to keep him? If he's a DH putting up his numbers, it's impressive. Same with first baseman. But it's not earth-shattering or anything. What makes him so valuable is that he's also one of the best defensive catchers in the game and gives you those hitting numbers at that position. 20 million a year for eight years seems like a catcher, but it seems like even more for a first baseman who only hits 20-30 homers a year.

Again, I might be completely wrong with that train of thought.

As a native, glad to see he stayed. It did remind me of Kirby's big deal when he stayed. With the state boys tourney beginning in Minnesota, I'm reminded that Mauer was also a hell of a basketball player; I think he averaged 20 a game for Cretin when they went to state. But that was his third-best sport.

you're bang on.

 

[Bubbler]

That sound you heard was Doug Melvin saying "****!"

Yeah. This won't escape Prince Fielder's notice.

 

[JC]

That sound you heard was Doug Melvin saying "****!"

Yeah. This won't escape Prince Fielder's notice.

should have no bearing on Fielder. A hell of a lot easier to get production at first then to get Mauer type production at catcher

 

[Piotr Rasputin]

Great, absolutley great, to see the Twins step up and make the deal that had to be made to keep their franchise player.
Proof that so-called small-market teams can keep their best players if they want to.

And if they have a new stadium (read: "Massive Revenue Generator") on the way.

Congratulations, Twins fans. Your loyalty has been rewarded.

 

[Bubbler]

That sound you heard was Doug Melvin saying "****!"

Yeah. This won't escape Prince Fielder's notice.

should have no bearing on Fielder. A hell of a lot easier to get production at first then to get Mauer type production at catcher

I think we're referring to his contract that's up soon. He and Scott Boras will definitely notice the dollars.

 

[spnited]

That sound you heard was Doug Melvin saying "****!"

Yeah. This won't escape Prince Fielder's notice.

should have no bearing on Fielder. A hell of a lot easier to get production at first then to get Mauer type production at catcher

I think we're referring to his contract that's up soon. He and Scott Boras will definitely notice the dollars.

And not even Scott the bull****ter Bor-ass can remotely compare the fat first baseman to the best hitter in baseball.

 

[JC]

That sound you heard was Doug Melvin saying "****!"

Yeah. This won't escape Prince Fielder's notice.

should have no bearing on Fielder. A hell of a lot easier to get production at first then to get Mauer type production at catcher

I think we're referring to his contract that's up soon. He and Scott Boras will definitely notice the dollars.

And not even Scott the bull****ter Bor-ass can remotely compare the fat first baseman to the best hitter in baseball.

plus the difference in position means they shouldn't be comparable. Fielders stats against an average first baseman compared to mauers against an average catcher. I'm sure Boras will try, but it's a hell of a lot easier to replace a Fielder than a Mauer.

 

[Bubbler]

That's my point ... Boras will try.

 

[outofplace]

Great, absolutley great, to see the Twins step up and make the deal that had to be made to keep their franchise player.
Proof that so-called small-market teams can keep their best players if they want to.

They had to do it. No way can they let a player like that get away just as they move into a new ballpark.

Funny how what one team does suddenly speaks for every small market when it suits you. Well, more predictable than funny. Given his level, the fact that he is a hometown boy and the new ballpark, this is a unique situation, but it won't keep the baseball apologists from crowing.

Of course, even if this pushes the Twins up to $100 million in payroll, that is still less than half of the payroll of the Yankees, who bought the last World Series.

It is great to see the Twins do this. No doubt about that. If they weren't going to keep him, they would never be able to keep that level of player. Plus, I've got him in a fantasy keeper league where you can't keep free agents (hi spnited!) But if he does get hurt or falter, this contract is going to bury that franchise.

 

[Mizzougrad96]

Not a Twins fan, but it's nice to see a superstar who will not be wearing a Yankee, Red Sox, Mets, Angels or Dodgers uniform.

 

[Kato]

Not a Twins fan, but it's nice to see a superstar who will not be wearing a Yankee, Red Sox, Mets, Angels or Dodgers uniform.

And it's nice to see a team that's been begging the public to pony up for a ballpark in order to be competitive then follow through and spend money in order to try to be competitive.

 

[Mizzougrad96]

Not a Twins fan, but it's nice to see a superstar who will not be wearing a Yankee, Red Sox, Mets, Angels or Dodgers uniform.

And it's nice to see a team that's been begging the public to pony up for a ballpark in order to be competitive then follow through and spend money in order to try to be competitive.

One of the reasons I don't like baseball anymore is that the free agency is out of hand and if you're a fan of a smaller market team, you almost always know that the team won't be able to keep its talent when they become free agents.

I grew up as a huge Royals fan, and I can only imagine what it would have been like if Brett had bolted for the Yankees after the 1980 season, which is the way things usually seem to be these days.

Keeping Mauer is a nice story and I wish there were more like that.

 

[Armchair_QB]

Great, absolutley great, to see the Twins step up and make the deal that had to be made to keep their franchise player.
Proof that so-called small-market teams can keep their best players if they want to.

And if they have a new stadium (read: "Massive Revenue Generator") on the way.

Congratulations, Twins fans. Your loyalty has been rewarded.

Where's the roof?

 

[Michael Echan]

So now who plays catcher for the Yankees the next eight years?

Jesus Montero is supposed to be the Next Big Thing for the Yankees. If not, Francisco Cervelli.

I think Austin Romine is more highly regarded than Cervelli. Either way, the Yankees aren't short on catching talent in their system...just everything else.

PS - To continue on with what Armchair just mentioned: how do you build a baseball stadium in MINNESOTA without at least a retractable roof? It would take Mauer money just to get me to sit there for a game in April or October.

 

[Rosie]

That's why we live in Minnesota and you don't.

 

[Armchair_QB]

So now who plays catcher for the Yankees the next eight years?

Jesus Montero is supposed to be the Next Big Thing for the Yankees. If not, Francisco Cervelli.

I think Austin Romine is more highly regarded than Cervelli. Either way, the Yankees aren't short on catching talent in their system...just everything else.

PS - To continue on with what Armchair just mentioned: how do you build a baseball stadium in MINNESOTA without at least a retractable roof? It would take Mauer money just to get me to sit there for a game in April or October.

Actually the weather isn't as miserable in the Cities in April and October as it is in Cleveland or Detroit.

But they do get a lot rain up there in the summer.

 

[Guy_Incognito]

It seems that Montero is not likely to stay at C, though they will make sure he can't before giving up. Cervelli will never be the starting C for the Yankees on purpose for any given time. Maybe Romine is the answer.

I agree with all the happys being tossed around, but again remind you all that I remember hearing similar things when Vernon Wells signed with TOronto - how great it was that the small market team was able to keep its own even though everyone had him as the perfect replacement for Bernie Williams when he hit FA. I wish them luck.

 

[Piotr Rasputin]

Great, absolutley great, to see the Twins step up and make the deal that had to be made to keep their franchise player.
Proof that so-called small-market teams can keep their best players if they want to.

They had to do it. No way can they let a player like that get away just as they move into a new ballpark.

Funny how what one team does suddenly speaks for every small market when it suits you. Well, more predictable than funny. Given his level, the fact that he is a hometown boy and the new ballpark, this is a unique situation, but it won't keep the baseball apologists from crowing.

Of course, even if this pushes the Twins up to $100 million in payroll, that is still less than half of the payroll of the Yankees, who bought the last World Series.

The Yankees did buy last year's World Series.

But .. . .

Whenever a team in a smaller market builds a new yard, I remember how Cleveland was the model for doing such a thing. Blessed as they were with talent thanks to wise drafting, the Indians locked up their good young players, and Jacobs Field's years of sellouts helped the team bring in enough revenue to stay competitive for a long time. Quality management did the rest.

Then I remember how fans and media thought a new yard would do the same for the Pittsburgh Pirates. New stadium, new revenue streams, ways to stay competitive. Then they gave Jason Kendall - a player I greatly admired - a six-year, $60 million contract. AFTER he nearly lost his entire foot in a baserunning mishap. Over the coming seasons, management then proceeded to show it was, well, Pittsburgh Pirates management.

We can talk about big market vs. small market all we want. The fact is, some small market teams have made it work for an extended period of time, and some large-market teams haven't. The advantage a team like, say, the Red Sox has over a team like the Pirates is the exact advantage they have over the Dodgers, who have proven that money is no panacea.

They're a lot smarter.

 

[Herbert Anchovy]

Minnesota wrote the book on how to survive and relatively thrive with finite resources, ever since they were on the axeman's block.