Joe Mauer Update
March 7, 2010 5:37 PMOver a month ago, I wrote that I felt the Minnesota Twins needed to pull out all stops to sign their superstar catcher, Joe Mauer, to multi-year deal to wrap him up for the rest 
of his baseball career.
It’s also up to Joe to get it done.
And the clock to opening day keeps ticking.
His agent, Ron Shapiro, is in Ft. Myers, the Florida home/training ground for the Twinkies and it’s been reported in multiple news outlets that there is still some considerable distance between the two sides.
I’m not a professional ballplayer and maybe I’m just naive, but I cannot imagine jilting my home town team for better money, especially when it seems as if the home team is doing all it can to keep the young superstar in Minnesota.
Um…this is mind-boggling to me. What could be the hold up? The conversation has to be something like this:
- Twins: What do you want, Joe?
- Joe: Not much…the moon, the stars, the planets.
- Twins: Done. Sign here.
As Larry the Cable guy would say, “Git’R Done!””
What “multiple” sources say there is considerable distance between the 2 sides?
I haven’t read that ANYWHERE.
Comment by Rachel — Sunday, March 7, 2010 @ 5:52 PM
How the Media twists things:
“Reportedly”
Yes, I reported it earlier even though it wasn’t true, so now I can say “reportedly” and someone might actually believe it.
“Sources close”
Yea, what I meant was this: I was talking to the guy who owns the parking lot right next to the stadium and he said he saw Joe sharpening a #2 lead pencil and was about to sign.
“Multiple Sources”
Re-Tweets on Twitter do not count as “Multiple Sources”.
Now about this “jilting the hometown team” thing. Joe is never going to get from the Twins what he could in New York or Boston. If he’s going to give the Twins a discount and a chance to keep him here in Minnesota, Joe deserves the consideration of other incentives which take time to negotiate. Consider what Joe made in 2004 and I’ll show you Jilted. I cannot feel sorry for the Twins, sorry.
Comment by Dave — Sunday, March 7, 2010 @ 7:29 PM
Why does everyone assume talks stop after spring training? Ripken, anyone?, who had the same agent, was signed during the season.
Comment by Nora — Sunday, March 7, 2010 @ 8:19 PM
If Mauer goes to the Yankees or Red Sox it will prove that there is a fundamental flaw in professional sports. The Money Ball Era is ruining the game, there are plenty of talented athletes who would be willing to play for good money, not astronomical money, and MLB needs to show the players that, while yes it is a business, it’s an entertainment business. You will only shoot yourselves in the foot by being so publicly greedy and then expecting us to patronize the stadium that, in most cases, the fans paid for.
Comment by Adam — Monday, March 8, 2010 @ 4:30 PM
If you want to know why Joe’s Bronx-bound, read the Bleacher Report article:
“Why Mauer The Twin Must Die And His Evil Twin Yankee Joe Must Live”
at http://bleacherreport.com/articles/359366-why-mauer-the-twin-must-die-and-his-evil-twin-yankee-joe-must-live
For some more pre-season chucks and giggles, check out my musical comedy vid “Joe’s Job – The Ballad of Terry Francona” at
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=WvVZQnELQ9s
It’s must-see entertainment for baseball fans everywhere. Go Yankees! 28 in 2010!!
Comment by nyyankeefanforever — Tuesday, March 9, 2010 @ 4:48 AM