February 05, 2007
How Much for Mauer?
Nick and Nick note that Joe Mauer could be looking at a big payday:
Charley Walters of the Piooner Press reported Sunday that the Twins are believed to have offered Mauer a four-year contract worth $33 million. Such a deal would average out to $8.25 million per season. That seems like a lot when you consider that Mauer is only asking for $4.5 million in arbitration this season, but it would almost certainly end up being a good deal when you consider that it would allow them to avoid the rest of his arbitration years and would also lock him up through his first year of free-agent eligibility. Mauer would be 28 by the end of that contract, and when it concludes the Twins would be in a new stadium with (presumably) a higher payroll which would allow them to potentially offer a massive contract that would keep Mauer in a Twins uniform for the rest of his career.
It would be a very good deal for both sides. The Twins get Mauer's best years at a very reasonable price. However, the contract may go to arbitration and Nick and Nick think Mauer will win. I've found predicting arbitration results to be very iffy. The Twins will argue that Mauer isn't as valuable as Morneau, who received $4.5 million, the amount Mauer is seeking. I don't agree with that, but presented properly, I can see where an arbitrator might. However, given that Joe is a catcher, and he's had an injury history, a guaranteed $33 million is an offer well worth his while.
Correction: Fixed the amont of Mauer's contract in the last paragraph.
Posted by David Pinto at
08:40 AM
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