Article: Twins Daily Roundtable: The Looming Mauer Decision

[Bill Brown69]

I want Mauer back. Actually I want the old Mauer back but that doesn't seem realistic. 

 

I hope he doesn't even mentally flirt with the idea of 12 mil per year. More like a 2 year at 15-18 Mil total. 120 games at first next year, none as DH. The second year if Rooker is ready and Austin improves then maybe we have a quandary. For next year I don't see either ready to take over full time with a glove. Austin could get 100+ games as DH and have Joe help him with his glove work. 

 

Joe could go out as the best in Minnesota history, all he has to do now is be a player on a WS team and groom one of those 2 into a gold glove 1B! 

[Mike Sixel]

 

I want Mauer back. Actually I want the old Mauer back but that doesn't seem realistic. 

 

I hope he doesn't even mentally flirt with the idea of 12 mil per year. More like a 2 year at 15-18 Mil total. 120 games at first next year, none as DH. The second year if Rooker is ready and Austin improves then maybe we have a quandary. For next year I don't see either ready to take over full time with a glove. Austin could get 100+ games as DH and have Joe help him with his glove work. 

 

Joe could go out as the best in Minnesota history, all he has to do now is be a player  a WS team and groom one of those 2 into a gold glove 1B! 

 

he's not even close to playing in 120 games at first base two of the last three years......

[Devereaux]

Pretty sure I've heard Joe enough times this season to know he wants to keep playing - and for the Twins. If the Twins are going nowhere for a while, I'd be happy to see him return on a team-friendly contract for a season or two to take more good at-bats and break more club records.

 

As other people have said, I have no idea what the FO wants. Will the FO be seen as less maverick and more Ryan-like if they sign Mauer? What options are there to replace him? I don't see any on the roster now.

[USAFChief]

Didn't get my thoughts in for this one, but I agree with what seems to be the general consensus —he plays here or doesn't play at all.

 

I think it's a good idea to bring him back as long as it's for the Twins price and their idea of his playing time, not his.

 

I'm not convinced this front office thinks that way, though. I think they're more likely than anyone who has ever been in the Twins FO before, to just move on from him. 

 

I'd hate it if he kind of got 'forced' into retirement like that, but then I'd tell him go try and play for a contender. I always wanted to see him play a majority of games in Fenway Park. All those drives to left-center start hitting the green monster and turn into at least singles instead of outs. Have maintained he would have hit .400 there in his prime.

I often read this.

 

Mauer is a career .255/.347/.397 hitter at Fenway. It’s only 157 PAs, but I still don’t think he’s any different than he was if he had played in Fenway.

 

He might even be worse...he rarely hits the ball over the LFer, and with the LFer playing shallower, more of those soft liners to left might get caught instead of falling for singles.

[USAFChief]

As for Mauer...why was he the only expiring contract not traded this year? Did he exercise his no trade clause?

 

Entirely within his rights, of course, but what does that say about him?

[Thrylos]

 

 

 

I'd hate it if he kind of got 'forced' into retirement like that, but then I'd tell him go try and play for a contender. I always wanted to see him play a majority of games in Fenway Park. All those drives to left-center start hitting the green monster and turn into at least singles instead of outs. Have maintained he would have hit .400 there in his prime.

 

So.... if he is not good enough for the Twins, why in heaven he should be good enough for the Red Sox or another perennial contender?

 

Mauer smacking the green monster would had been a valid fantasy  c.2009-2010  

Edited September 5, 2018 by Thrylos

[Vanimal46]

Great player once not now. Does a FO that is trying to build a strong playoff contending team really need a 36 yr old part time replacement level 1B/DH?

There are those types of players on all championship teams. Not specifically that position, but whatever position they play. Grandpa Ross, Carlos Beltran, Alex Rios, etc.

 

Joe Mauer can still play a valuable role on a championship team. Part time role player and primary pinch hitter.

[Craig Arko]

As for Mauer...why was he the only expiring contract not traded this year? Did he exercise his no trade clause?

Entirely within his rights, of course, but what does that say about him?

He understands how contracts work?

[KGB]

He understands how contracts work?[/quote

 

And winning isn't his top priority?

[Craig Arko]

He understands how contracts work?[/quote

 

And winning isn't his top priority?

 

I would hope his family is his top priority.

[gunnarthor]

 

 All those drives to left-center start hitting the green monster and turn into at least singles instead of outs. Have maintained he would have hit .400 there in his prime.

I agree with you. In 2006 or 2009, he would have flirted with .400 if he played at Fenway and ESPN would've had breaking news stories on it all the time.

[Twodogs]

So.... if he is not good enough for the Twins, why in heaven he should be good enough for the Red Sox or another perennial contender?

 

Mauer smacking the green monster would had been a valid fantasy c.2009-2010

David Ortiz wasn't good enough for the Twins??

 

Prob more along the lines of what each team needs. The Twins need a guy they can pencil into their lineup everyday which it appears as if Mauer isn't that guy anymore. Boston or another team could be deep enough to use a guy like Mauer for 120 games a year and get real value out of those 120 games?

[Thrylos]

 

David Ortiz wasn't good enough for the Twins??

Prob more along the lines of what each team needs. The Twins need a guy they can pencil into their lineup everyday which it appears as if Mauer isn't that guy anymore. Boston or another team could be deep enough to use a guy like Mauer for 120 games a year and get real value out of those 120 games?

 

 

David Ortiz was great for the Twins but not as good as good ol' boy Matt LeCroy for Terry Ryan.

 

Mauer is about 10 years older than Ortiz was when he went to Boston.  And in Mauer's age, that's dog years...

[USAFChief]

He understands how contracts work?

So your theory is, Mauer said “no” to a trade?

 

As I said, that’d be well within his rights. Just don’t turn around and tell me he cares about the Twins. I’ve been told repeatedly that the Twins were smart to trade expiring contracts. Well, there’s one that didn’t leave.

[jimmer]

Yeah, Joe doesn't care about the Twins if he chose to stay with the Twins instead of being traded. Concrete reasoning. Some will stop at nothing to take shots at him.

 

I love how it's okay to attack HIS character too. I thought that wasn't allowed here.

Edited September 6, 2018 by jimmer

[big dog]

I think if he had been planning to stay, the last few weeks and the next few weeks might cause him to change his mind.

[SwainZag]

 

So your theory is, Mauer said “no” to a trade?

As I said, that’d be well within his rights. Just don’t turn around and tell me he cares about the Twins. I’ve been told repeatedly that the Twins were smart to trade expiring contracts. Well, there’s one that didn’t leave.

 

This is just a cheap pot shot at Joe.  Born and raised in the Twin Cities, played his entire career in the system and with the Twins.  His family is here, his friends are here, basically his entire life, but you want to take a shot at him for not being a "team player" and being traded in the twilight of his career to play ball away from all of that?  Please.  He earned and negotiated that no trade clause.  

[USAFChief]

This is just a cheap pot shot at Joe.  Born and raised in the Twin Cities, played his entire career in the system and with the Twins.  His family is here, his friends are here, basically his entire life, but you want to take a shot at him for not being a "team player" and being traded in the twilight of his career to play ball away from all of that?  Please.  He earned and negotiated that no trade clause.

 

We’re off topic here, I guess, and that’s my fault.

 

But it’s not a cheap shot. It’s a legitimate question. Remove the sentimentality. There’s only one expiring contract left, no?

[SwainZag]

 

We’re off topic here, I guess, and that’s my fault.

But it’s not a cheap shot. It’s a legitimate question. Remove the sentimentality. There’s only one expiring contract left, no?

 

You are making him to the bad guy for NOT being traded because of his contract status.  Yes, he has an expiring contract.  You think the only way to show that he cares about the Twins and the franchise was to waive his no-trade clause this year?

[Twodogs]

David Ortiz was great for the Twins but not as good as good ol' boy Matt LeCroy for Terry Ryan.

 

Mauer is about 10 years older than Ortiz was when he went to Boston. And in Mauer's age, that's dog years...

If he was great for the Twins why'd they get rid of him? Also I think it had more to do with Dougie baseball than LeCroy? Nonetheless both Ortiz and Dougie Baseball won the World Series for the Bosox. I think both of them kinda stuck their noses up at the Twins and went neener, neener, neener when they got those rings too.

 

I'm kinda getting on board that I'd love to see Mauer go to one of those teams in a part time 120 game roll and win a World Series for himself while all of us Twins fans sit around wondering which minor leaguers are going to take over for the Twins in 2020.

[Twins33]

As for Mauer...why was he the only expiring contract not traded this year? Did he exercise his no trade clause?

Entirely within his rights, of course, but what does that say about him?

There was a quote from him saying he was not asked to so they never tried to trade him or it was never close at least.

 

I'm guessing they didn't have any Mauer talks because they know Mauer's answer already. He wants to be a Twin for life and it's not hard to believe him.

[USAFChief]

There was a quote from him saying he was not asked....

Link?

[Twins33]

Link?

Slightly earlier than the actual deadline but I doubt it changed.

 

https://www.twincities.com/2018/07/27/mauer-says-he-hasnt-been-approached-about-waiving-no-trade-clause/

 

Never saw anything about the waiver deadline so not sure about that part, but I'd assume more of the same.

Edited September 6, 2018 by Twins33

[USAFChief]

Slightly earlier than the actual deadline but I doubt it changed. https://www.twincities.com/2018/07/27/mauer-says-he-hasnt-been-approached-about-waiving-no-trade-clause/

Never saw anything about the waiver deadline so not sure about that part, but I'd assume more of the same.

Thanks.

[Riverbrian]

If I'm Joe... I've come so far with such a short time to go. 

 

I wouldn't waive those 10-5 rights for any amount of money... And any amount of money isn't going to be paid to even come close to a last temptation for Mauer. 

 

If I'm Joe... I'm retiring as a Twin, It will be the only team I play for! This is extremely rare in this day and age and admirable. 

 

If I'm the GM... there is no way I would trade Joe and there is no way I even suggest it to his agent and there is no way that I would even ask Joe to check the temp of the water.

 

If I'm the GM... I'm starting to think about where his statue should be placed outside the stadium and also making sure that the sculptor makes it taller than the tiny Calvin Griffith statue. 

[Bill Brown69]

 

he's not even close to playing in 120 games at first base two of the last three years......

 

Since 2012 he has played in at least 120 games every year. There is where manager comes in. I posted 120 games at 1B and 0 at DH. 120+ bench bat for 42!

Edited September 6, 2018 by Bill Brown69

[Twins33]

I think he'll re-sign for one year. Wonder what he'd be willing to take though? He's at the stage where he may not deserve more than 6M. If he would have had another repeat of last season than he'd be worth more.

 

Money isn't an issue for the Twins next season, but that doesn't mean they should overpay him for his age 36 season when he's not playing 120+ games at 1B. Love the guy though. If he retires, I really enjoyed watching him play.

[USAFChief]

If I'm Joe... I've come so far with such a short time to go. 

 

I wouldn't waive those 10-5 rights for any amount of money... And any amount of money isn't going to be paid to even come close to a last temptation for Mauer. 

 

If I'm Joe... I'm retiring as a Twin, It will be the only team I play for! This is extremely rare in this day and age and admirable. 

 

If I'm the GM... there is no way I would trade Joe and there is no way I even suggest it to his agent and there is no way that I would even ask Joe to check the temp of the water.

 

If I'm the GM... I'm starting to think about where his statue should be placed outside the stadium and also making sure that the sculptor makes it taller than the tiny Calvin Griffith statue.

 

If I’m the GM, I start thinking about returning the Twins to relevance, stat.

[USAFChief]

As to back on topic, it depends on what you want.

 

If your goal is a farewell, feel good tour for Mauer, then take the safe route, which few will criticize, and give Mauer a one yr contract. Accommodate Joe Mauer and his fan base, but deprioritize winning.

 

If, however, your goal is to compete at the highest levels, find a full time first baseman who moves you toward that goal.

 

My personal option would be Donaldson at third, Sano at first. It might bomb spectacularly, but it also might succeed spectacularly. Mauer offers no such upside.

[Riverbrian]

 

If I’m the GM, I start thinking about returning the Twins to relevance, stat.

 

Oh I'm looking.