Should the Twins offer Mauer a Koivu-like extension?

[Old Twins Cap]

At the game last Sunday, Mauer hit a laser over the LFer's head, then, next AB goes plaza for a Grand Salami.  He hit another one over LFer head last night.

 

My objection to him over the last four years and more has been all the Punch and Judy crap that drops in front of the LFer.

 

Maybe we have a new Joe, kind of like the old Joe.

 

What's not to like?  Defense is solid, which really helps a young infield.

[Mike Sixel]

 

Joe isn't going anywhere. Let him finish out his contract and then make a decision.

 

100% this. There is zero reason to sign him to an extension right now. He's not going to sign with another team as a FA after next year.....

[Pardon My Dinger]

I wouldn't expect Mauer to drive too hard a bargain. Intuition tells me that he will either play for the Twins some more or retire. I do not see this guy exploring the market.

[kab21]

 

Yeah, declining former stars would be shoved out of baseball if that 80% rule applied to them.

No, declining former stars must formally hit FA and then they can sign for whatever they want. This is specifically for extensions while under team control just like arbitration. Of course, they could have gotten rid of this clause in the 2+ new CBA's since I paid attention to this type of stuff.

[nicksaviking]

I wouldn't expect Mauer to drive too hard a bargain. Intuition tells me that he will either play for the Twins some more or retire. I do not see this guy exploring the market.

I could see him going to his other home town team, the Rays. Otherwise I agree, Joe doesn't seem to be the kind of guy who would cotton to change.

[Tomj14]

 

100% this. There is zero reason to sign him to an extension right now. He's not going to sign with another team as a FA after next year.....

The only reason I can see, would be you believe he can do this for another 3 years, and you add two to the end of this contract for an amount way lower than market value, maybe 3 with a club option.

If he does this next year and he is a FA, somebody will give him more than we are willing or should pay. Thinking Hunter back in the day)

 

[Loosey]

I don't think we need to get into extension talks with him yet.  He is under contract through next year.  When that contract is up talk with him.  Based on everything I know of Mauer, I doubt he is just going to go to the highest bidder.  If the Twins offer him a new 2-3 year contract after his current one if up and it is fair, I think he would sign it.  Maybe even front load.  2-year 20M contract.  $13M in 2019 and $7M in 2020.  That way if he regresses he would be a $7M backup DH/1B in 2020 which would not be outrageous.

[mazeville]

 

No, I'm not saying anything like that.

 

Remember in 2009 when he had his career year, with 27 HRs?  Contract year.

 

That's all.  He knows how to show up when it matters.  In every respect.  Even if it means taking a walk. :}

 

Except he has one more year left on his deal. This isn't a contract year. 

[mazeville]

I give Mauer another contract. Don't see any point in letting him sign somewhere else. 

[crop duster]

Idk, the salary issue was brought in 2013 when Morneau wanted an extension, not sure if it's still an issue or what the percentage limit was back then

[Doomtints]

This seems like the worst possible time -- during a playoff push -- for the Twins to talk to any player about extensions or salaries.

 

Also, if we don't think Mauer wants to play for someone else, there is no reason to sign new paper early, or at least not until next season starts rolling.

[Darius]

This is a tangent, but when I looked up Mauer's career rank in hits among active players (13th), I saw that Nick Markakis has 2030.

 

He's only 33, so he has an outside shot at getting to 3000 if he plays past 40. I would not have expected he'd have that many.

He was a sure-fire 3k guy, IMO, but he was robbed of a few good years due to injuries (knee, concussion).

 

The common thread with 3k guys - 20+ season of no injuries (with the exception Ichiro, who played like 17 here, or something). Also, I may be missing someone, but I don't believe any guys that played significant time at catcher are in the club. Ivan Rodriguez got to around 2800 in 20 season.

 

I'm also not sure how many in the 3,000 hit club got their start at 18-19 years old, where Mauer spent a few years in the minors. Something else that doesn't really get much consideration when comparing guys in today's game to the old-timers.

 

If he manages to get to 3k, under his circumstances, not only is he a sure HOF player, but he's got to be considered one of the greatest hitters of all-time. If he surpasses 2,500, which he certainly will barring injury or early retirement, it's still a pretty astounding career.

 

The guy doesn't get nearly enough credit for how great of a hitter he really is/was.

[Whammy]

Taking the MLBPA rules out of the equation for now....

 

Would you restructure a deal that paid him 3/42 for the next three years, but paid evenly, at 14,14,14 instead of 23/x/x.

 

Might free up some budget to get that FA pitcher we might want.

 

I know we probably can't do this under the rules (which is stupid.... why do they care), but if we could, would you do that?

[Darius]

Taking the MLBPA rules out of the equation for now....

 

Would you restructure a deal that paid him 3/42 for the next three years, but paid evenly, at 14,14,14 instead of 23/x/x.

 

Might free up some budget to get that FA pitcher we might want.

 

I know we probably can't do this under the rules (which is stupid.... why do they care), but if we could, would you do that?

I most certainly would do that.

 

That said, I'm not sure that would make any difference for the off-season free-agent plans. Maybe it'll be different with this FO.

 

We can only hope, because if there ever was a time for an organization to throw a boatload of cash at pitching, this offseason would be it. They're a starter and a couple of quality bullpen pieces from being a legit contender for AL World Series rep, IMO.

[Mike Sixel]

 

Taking the MLBPA rules out of the equation for now....

 

Would you restructure a deal that paid him 3/42 for the next three years, but paid evenly, at 14,14,14 instead of 23/x/x.

 

Might free up some budget to get that FA pitcher we might want.

 

I know we probably can't do this under the rules (which is stupid.... why do they care), but if we could, would you do that?

 

No. He is not young, he could get hurt next year, and you aren't saving much money.....

 

There is no reason to sign him, unless you think you will get outbid for a mid-30s 1B who is league median in WAR, who is from MN, who probably wouldn't sign someplace else.....

 

Who is paying a league median 1B more than the Twins will, who will be 35+?

[kemics]

Other than the power numbers, I like this version of Joe. And I will sacrifice some HRs for the Gold Glove Defense he's provided. 

 

.310. 10hrs (Maybe) and 40 doubles a year... Put him at the #2 spot, hit buxton 1st (when ready) and Dozier 3rd. That's a heck of a 1-2-3 before you get to Sano when healthy. 

That over the next 3 years I'll take it. 

[oldguywithanitch]

 

Wild GM made a shrewd move I thought giving Koivu an extension at an affordable price in a cap-driven world.

 

No cap in baseball. Not really in a hurry to get rid of 2017 Joe Mauer. Our 1B candidates have flopped pretty hard: Park, Lil Papi. 

 

A couple years half to third the money, left him retire a Twin. 

 

Thoughts....

 

If this off season Mauer works to improve his play in the faceoff circle I would give him a Koivu-like extension.

[Hosken Bombo Disco]

 

 a million or two a year?

yes

 

 

I am assuming that Mauer: 1. doesn't need the money, 2. will never play for another team, 3. may want to retire at any time, 4. Twins need $$ freed up for free agent pitching and a long term contract for Buxton

 

if there are rules against such contracts, that would obviously complicate things.

[Richie the Rally Goat]

 

yes

 

 

I am assuming that Mauer: 1. doesn't need the money, 2. will never play for another team, 3. may want to retire at any time, 4. Twins need $$ freed up for free agent pitching and a long term contract for Buxton

 

if there are rules against such contracts, that would obviously complicate things.

1 is irrelevant and I would not assume 2 or 3. From everything I've read, Joe is a fierce competitor. He may want to stay a Twin for his whole career, but if a surefire world series contender offered him a contract, he'd have to at least consider it.  

[Hosken Bombo Disco]

 

1 is irrelevant and I would not assume 2 or 3. From everything I've read, Joe is a fierce competitor. He may want to stay a Twin for his whole career, but if a surefire world series contender offered him a contract, he'd have to at least consider it.  

Very possible. Like Brock said, the team doesn't need to start thinking about this until a year from now. 

[Thrylos]

Mauer will be 35.5 the end of 2018.

 

Name a single Twins' player in his mid 30s who received an extension and worked out well for the Twins.  From Pavano, to Perkins, to Capps, to Hughes, even to Nathan (they got 1 good year out of 3).  Guess they have not done it with position players.

 

This team has plenty of options in first base for 2019, from Rooker to Sano.  And there is another season till that bridge needs to be crossed.   It makes no sense to extend players way past their primes.

[jimmer]

yes

 

 

I am assuming that Mauer: 1. doesn't need the money, 2. will never play for another team, 3. may want to retire at any time, 4. Twins need $$ freed up for free agent pitching and a long term contract for Buxton

 

if there are rules against such contracts, that would obviously complicate things.

he would be out of his mind to accept such a low (in baseball world) contract.

[jimmer]

I wouldn't expect Mauer to drive too hard a bargain. Intuition tells me that he will either play for the Twins some more or retire. I do not see this guy exploring the market.

he might explore the market if the team was offering him a contract that was only a million or two a year.

[Hosken Bombo Disco]

 

he might explore the market if the team was offering him a contract that was only a million or two a year.

Yeah, that would be a super smart idea. Mauer could come to Target Field in an opposing uniform and Twins fans would have to watch him help his new team knock the Twins out of the pennant race. 

 

I'm just saying I think Mauer could buy some good will by signing small year to year contracts.

[jimmer]

Yeah, that would be a super smart idea. Mauer could come to Target Field in an opposing uniform and Twins fans would have to watch him help his new team knock the Twins out of the pennant race.

 

I'm just saying I think Mauer could buy some good will by signing small year to year contracts.

and something like a 3 year/21M contract would be both good for the team and perhaps enough for him to stay.

[Mike Sixel]

 

and something like a 3 year/21M contract would be both good for the team and perhaps enough for him to stay.

 

signing guys to their age 37/38 year is good for the team?

[Major League Ready]

I have really enjoyed Joe's play but I would try to sign him on a year to year basis.  If we are going to commit to big money for multiple years, why not go after Justin Smoak if Roker, Sano or someone else  don't fill that role..  

[Mr. Brooks]

and something like a 3 year/21M contract would be both good for the team and perhaps enough for him to stay.

Im thrilled that Joe is having a renaissance of sorts, but I'm extremely opposed to a three year deal.

 

His age, the fact the 3 previous seasons were duds (could very well be concussion finally recovered, but that's speculation, hardly a fact yet), and the fact that his production- while nice, is hardly irreplaceable at first place, would make me go year to year. If he declines, then wish him the best and find a younger replacement.

 

We also have one more year under contract which will give us more data, no reason to give him an extension.

[USAFChief]

 

Im thrilled that Joe is having a renaissance of sorts, but I'm extremely opposed to a three year deal.

His age, the fact the 3 previous seasons were duds (could very well be concussion finally recovered, but that's speculation, hardly a fact yet), and the fact that his production- while nice, is hardly irreplaceable at first place, would make me go year to year. If he declines, then wish him the best and find a younger replacement.

We also have one more year under contract which will give us more data, no reason to give him an extension.

Which has resulted in an .815 OPS.  Not bad, but nothing particularly remarkable, except in comparison to his three previous seasons.

 

Assess after 2018.

[Mr. Brooks]

Imagine if Brad Stiel makes the phone call if they let Joe walk after 2018! 500 pages?