Joe Mauer

Now that the Twins season is over the contract watch officaially begins. Will the Twins be able to keep him, will they trade him or will he leave as a free agent.

Twins catcher Joe Mauer, coming off his best season as a pro, is eligible for free agency following the 2010 season and said he plans to fly to Baltimore in the next few weeks to visit with agent Ron Shapiro to discuss his future. ... If Mauer needs a physical between now and the beginning of the season, it would be for a good reason for the Twins. That would mean he's taking the standard precautionary physical after agreeing to a contract extension. Mauer said he plans to take a few weeks to evaluate the season before meeting with Shapiro, and showed no signs of being impatient about his contract. "I'm not a guy who will say that I need something done," said Mauer, who made $10.5 million this season and will earn $12.5 million next season. "I think things will work themselves out. I'm not in a big hurry to do anything," Mauer said. -- Star Tribune

If Twins GM Bill Smith, who refuses to answer questions about contract negotiations, can't sign Joe Mauer before next season, the team almost certainly would have to trade the catcher to avoid losing him to free agency for nothing more than compensatory draft picks. Mauer said he hasn't thought about playing for any other team. If Mauer goes to free agency, he'd likely get one of the richest, if not the richest, contracts in baseball history. He's just 26 years old and has won three batting titles, a Gold Glove and two Silver Sluggers, and this year is in the running for his first MVP award. His .365 batting average in 2009 is the highest single-season average for a catcher in baseball history. And this season, as he added points to his average, he added power as well, hitting 28 home runs with 96 runs batted in. -- Pioneer Press

He's saying some things to give me hope this can get done...

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"I don't like to ruffle any feathers or anything like that," Mauer said. "I just like to go out and play the game and try to win. That's what I'm all about. I don't want it to be a distraction, but it will happen when it needs to happen."

Mauer has said recently that he's more interested in winning a World Series than being the highest-paid player in baseball. As for whether the Twins have shown him that they are on the same page in terms of wanting to win, Mauer only had to reference the club's season that had just ended.

"We can win here, I think we proved that here by getting to the postseason," Mauer said. "Ultimately, that's what I want to do."

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Contract year ahead, Mauer eyes offseason | twinsbaseball.com: News

The Twins will re-sign him. He's from St. Paul, a former number one draft pick, a three time batting champ, a safe bet to be an MVP candidate, the twins are opening a new ballpark - how does letting Mauer go make any sense? The Twins need him to sell tickets, market the team, and most importantly win ballgames. If the Twins screw this up, it will be a bigger loss than Santana and Hunter combined.

I think they get him signed for a few reasons. GM knows he is the face of the franchise and will open the pocket book. New stadium should help the Twins in terms of attendance and allow them to pay a little more. But, bottom line, I really think Mauer wants to stay in Minnesota. At least I hope he does.

They'll sign him, the Twins are going into a new stadium, have had a stagnant payroll number for the past several years and let Hunter and Santana go under the pretenses of needing the space for their younger hitters. Letting Mauer go would be a PR nightmare for the Twins.

They HAVE to resign him. However, expect ownership to claim that they can't improve the rest of the roster; because of what they are having to pay him.

He could honestly hit free agency and make $25 million a year.

It's not just about the contract concerning the money he can make. His endorsement potential in a market like New York is HUGE. Minnesota just cannot compete with that.

I hope he stays like the rest of you, I'm just pointing out that it comes down to more than just the team contract.

His agent is the same that represented Kirby Puckett and Cal Ripken Jr., so there is hope that the agent sees the value in keeping a player in one city for an entire career.

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Originally Posted by jtd9046

It's not just about the contract concerning the money he can make. His endorsement potential in a market like New York is HUGE. Minnesota just cannot compete with that.

I hope he stays like the rest of you, I'm just pointing out that it comes down to more than just the team contract.

His agent is the same that represented Kirby Puckett and Cal Ripken Jr., so there is hope that the agent sees the value in keeping a player in one city for an entire career.

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Same thing happened with Teixeria and Baltimore...

I'm sure Mauer wants to continue his career in Minnesota, but that NYC $ is just too phat to pass up.

Magic 8-ball says: he stays.

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Originally Posted by 3GenClone

Same thing happened with Teixeria and Baltimore...

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Teixiera was a journeyman. He really had no ties to anything. Its not like he had always been with his hometown Orioles. Not to mention his agent was Scott Boras.

I'm finished with the Twins if they don't make this happen. Find the money and keep someone who wants to stay with his team. I think you are talking in the $100 million range to keep him. Make it happen.

Mauer's agent is already getting his name out there and his PR team is testing some of the bigger markets. From what I have heard, Mauer wants to get out there and hit free agency, not only for the pay day, but to get away from Minnesota for a while... He has had to live up to this image playing in his hometown and the image really isn't who he really is.

I do not think Joe is going anywhere, I read a interview that said he just wants to win and would even take less, kind of like Kirby....

But the Twins will have to make some commitment to Joe and to Winning.....If they do that I think he stays....

If they can't afford it....player/owner anyone......does MLB allow this...?

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Originally Posted by cybsball20

Mauer's agent is already getting his name out there and his PR team is testing some of the bigger markets. From what I have heard, Mauer wants to get out there and hit free agency, not only for the pay day, but to get away from Minnesota for a while... He has had to live up to this image playing in his hometown and the image really isn't who he really is.

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You've heard from where?

That's the exact opposite of everything that's been publicly stated.