Joe Mauer Decides to Stay Home

So ESPN news reported today that C Joe Mauer agrees to an eight-year, $184 million contract extension with the Twins. This is the best thing that could of happened to the Twins and to Baseball.

As a Yankees fan I always get grilled (and at times it is valid) about how the Yankees spend tons of money buying up all the best players (which is often unfair). If that was the case no other team would have any superstars, but I digress.

I commend the Twins in showing a dedication to their city, their players and most importantly their fan base. This shows that the Twins are committed to winning with their core duo of Joe Mauer and Justin Morneau. Mauer's extension runs to the year 2018, Morneau signed his six-year, $80 million extension in January of 2008 which puts the duo together until the year 2014. I remember the day I heard that the Twins were passing on drafting the top prospect of the 2001 draft who happened to be pitcher Mark Prior. Instead, the Twins decided to draft local ballplayer, a catcher no less named Joe Mauer from Cretin-Derham Hall, St. Paul (Note: Prior was drafted at number two with great fanfare by the Chicago Cubs).

The Twins were ridiculed by the media who scoffed at the notion of the Twins not only passing on Prior but doing so by drafting a catcher. Laughs could be heard throughout the baseball world. Prior complied a 42-29 record in 5 season with a 3.51 ERA while Mauer has quietly won 3 batting titles and the 2009 MVP award. One guess on who is laughing now.

Bravo Twins. Now your fans have another reason to celebrate this season along with the new stadium. Pirates' fans must be grumbling why can't their team look out for them as the Twins do for their fans.

For Further Reading:
-Here is the article from ESPN announcing the contract extension for Mauer
- Here is the article from the Minneapolis-St. Paul Minnesota Star Ledger website, Click Here