Mauer's contract also was a great example of why these protracted mega deals ALWAYS look dumb in the end.... The same will be true of Trout, Harper, Cole, Strasburg, Rendon in years 5,6,7 and beyond....just as it did with Joe Mauer. Point being, you sometimes need to sign the "stupid contract" to move the needle. Now we need to show we are willing to do it more than once in a lifetime for a hometown slam dunk allstar at a premium position.