From the Minnesota Twins media relations office:
Twins Agree to Terms with Catcher Joe Mauer on Four-Year Contract
MINNEAPOLIS-ST. PAUL, MN -- The Minnesota Twins announced today that they have agreed to terms with All-Star catcher Joe Mauer on a four-year contract that runs through the 2010 season.
Mauer, 23, led the Major Leagues with a .347 (181-521) batting average and became the first-ever American League catcher to win the batting title. In addition, Mauer set career-highs in nearly every offensive category, including, hits, runs (86), doubles (36), triples (4), home runs (13), rbi (84), walks (79) and slugging percentage (.507), while his .429 on-base percentage ranked third in the American League.
"We are pleased to have an agreement with one of Minnesota's brightest young stars," said Twins General Manager Terry Ryan. "Joe has become one of the game's great young players on and off the field. He has a bright future with this organization and means a great deal to the people of Minnesota."
Mauer became just the fourth different Twins player to win a batting title and the first since Kirby Puckett (.339) in 1989. His .347 batting average was the highest since Puckett hit .356 in 1988. The St. Paul, Minnesota native was named the American League Player of the Month for June after hitting .452 (42-93) with a .528 on-base percentage in 24 games. The following month, Mauer was named to his first All-Star Game, July 11 at Pittsburgh.
The first overall selection in the 2001 First-Year Player Draft, Mauer has spent parts of three seasons in the Major Leagues. He made his Major League debut on April 5, 2004 vs. Cleveland and has a career batting average of .321 (358-1117) with 70 doubles, seven triples, 28 home runs and 156 rbi in 306 games.
Posted by twayn at February 11, 2007 12:33 PMAwesome.
Posted by: sadgoatboy at February 11, 2007 01:22 PMWhoop!
Posted by: bayareatwinsfan at February 11, 2007 01:29 PMI am so pumped about this . . . how often can we say this about the Twins, "Great signing!"
Posted by: S.J. at February 11, 2007 01:39 PMI had read about this rumored deal a few weeks ago. I am glad something got done. More years would have been nice, but now we know we don't need to worry about his contract for awhile.
On to Cuddy and to the couch to dig up change to put toward a Santana extension...
Posted by: Shaun at February 11, 2007 01:49 PMKeeping him out of arbitration and locked up a year after the first siren song of free agency is killer...with the new stadium becoming a reason to stay beyond that.
Great contract...for Joe and the Twins.
Posted by: BAT bandwagoner at February 11, 2007 01:57 PM3.75, 6.25, 10.5 and 12.5 mil... WOW I know its fair in the market but I'm still surprised. Thank goodness for revenue sharing. It does give morneau and especially Santana some leverage, but like Isaid last time, thats for TR to worry about, not me.
Posted by: Bob at February 11, 2007 01:59 PMThat is GREAT news!!!
Only one more week til the pitchers and catchers report! Baseball is finally here!
Posted by: melissa at February 11, 2007 02:35 PMI'm very glad they've wrapped up Mauer for 4 years. That said, I can't help but laugh about this whole business of arbitration and player salaries in general. A day ago, Mauer wasn't worth the $4.5 million he was asking for in arbitration (and the Twins were offering $3.3M). Today, he's worth $33M over 4 years (plus incentives).
It's a good thing that smarter people than I am are running things.
JC
Posted by: JimCrikket at February 11, 2007 02:55 PMThis is awesome. I hopw they can lock up Morneau and Santana now.
http://www.twins-territory.blogspot.com/
Posted by: Alex at February 11, 2007 04:06 PMBob: Yes you do need to worry about it a lot if you are a regular ticket buyer. You can expect at least $2.50 per seat will come from Joe's new contact by the time 2010 comes around.
Posted by: twinsfansam at February 11, 2007 05:39 PMYAY! Four-year deal. That makes me happy. :)
Dance around. Dance around.
Posted by: Shelley at February 11, 2007 09:21 PMYaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaay!!!!!!!!
Posted by: Bubba at February 11, 2007 09:45 PMWhat Bubba said ^
:D
This news made my day today.
Posted by: Stacy at February 11, 2007 10:43 PMTerry Ryan has gone on record saying he doesn't like contracts that extend past 4-years.
He considers it most likely that either the team will be overpaying by Year 5, or the player will not be content.
Posted by: JohnWayne at February 12, 2007 08:01 AM...and I would agree with TR's opinion, as relayed by TW. Of course, there is no reason why the team and player can't begin negotiating after a couple of years to add extensions to that contract. We'd certainly like to see that happen now with Santana, although I would think it would be difficult to do, given the escalating salaries for #1 pitchers.
Posted by: JimCrikket at February 12, 2007 08:34 AMYes yes yes yes yes yes yes!!!
Posted by: Carmen at February 12, 2007 09:15 AMGreat news! Now, if those land owners downtown would just get with the program!
I thought this was kind of a strange line in the release: "Mauer became just the fourth different Twins player to win a batting title and the first since Kirby Puckett (.339) in 1989."
"Just" the fourth? Carew won seven, Tony O three, Kirby one, and now Mauer. In the Twins 45 years in existence, the AL Batting Champ has worn a Minneosta uniform more that 25 percent of the time! Just indeed!
Posted by: funoka at February 12, 2007 09:30 AMThe people rejoice with content hearts as The Chairman graciously accepts the people's love and admiration and graces us with his presence for the future, and leads us with great foresight to new and inspiring heights.
Posted by: Ross at February 12, 2007 09:36 AMI got literally got off the couch and did a little dance when I saw the news on the ESPN ticker yesterday. =D
Posted by: Nate at February 12, 2007 12:02 PMFOUR MORE YEARS! FOUR MORE YEARS!
Posted by: Bring Back Reboulet at February 12, 2007 02:15 PMSaweeeet! I can't wait for this season :)
Posted by: Mac at February 12, 2007 02:33 PMYes GREAT News--but what a cost--$33 million over 4 years--
But how can the Twins afford similar salaries for the good Doctor and Cuddles as well as contract extensions for Nathan and Johan. I believe the going rate may be going up by day...
DAM
Posted by: DAM-DC Twins Fan at February 12, 2007 02:51 PMAs much as I hate good news that comes at the expense of others, I am sure some of you are breathing a sigh of relief after reading this:
http://sports.espn.go.com/mlb/news/story?id=2763185
Breath-holding-ly yours,
YankeeFan
That's a lot of Jimmy Johns.
Posted by: ramon at February 12, 2007 04:39 PMDam, we still would have had to pay Mauer under arbitration. They are going to have to pay players. We were not going to get anyone 'cheap'
Posted by: Nora at February 12, 2007 09:13 PMChairman mauer, 4 more years!!!!!!!
So happy I could eat my own socks (no they're not red or white they are, in fact, blue ;-)
GOOOOOO TWINS!!!!!
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