kblack1011

Pulols didn't get the contract from the Cards, why would the Angels pay for his past performance? He got his contract because they thought he could lead them to the World Series in the first couple years, which would have given them huge market share and money in the LA market. They also backloaded the contract, to match their TV contract. The Twins didn't give Nolasco $12 million per year because he USED to be a good pitcher, they expected him to BE a good pitcher with the team.

Contracts are not given as a reward for past performance. Past performance has to be considered as it relates to future performance, along with teams needs and marketing. In Mauer's first 5 full time years prior to his contract, he had 3 batting titles and an MVP. He was entering the prime of most players career at 27 and the Twins were just entering a new stadium. Everything fell into place for him to get a huge contract from the Twins. But he's not performing anywhere near expectation for a player being paid as a top 10 player and no team would now pay him what he getting. Which is what the article is about - he has a lot of dead money on his contract.

I'd trade for Greinke in a second, you get a #1 starter for an extra 2.5 million per year. Gonzalez is a wash, no need to consider the trade. Gonzalez maybe a year older, but plays 160 games a year. Mauer is more likely to breakdown than Gonzalez based on history.

How is Greinke and Gonzales worst contracts than Mauer? Greinke was an All Star and Gonzales makes less money and is having a better year. Kemp is a good comparison, he make less per year but has more years. Both have some injury history and are having down years. I don't see how the Twins could take the PR hit with that trade and the Dodgers don't need a first baseman. If their was any hope Mauer could catch, the Twins would move him back, but they don't even consider him a 3rd string emergency catcher. But on a pure baseball move, with the Twins roster it easier to replace the 1B and they need a CF.

The Twins would either have to eat a lot of money or take back some equally bad contracts. No way they trade him, can't take the PR hit along with eating 20+ million.

I guess I had higher expectation of Mauer, coming off an MVP season than you had, but there is nothing wrong with being an average player if that what everyone expects of Mauer. Just don't see the beauty in an average player.

I don't think Mauer problem is that of style as much as a decline in proformance. By the time he was 26, he had 3 batting titles and an MVP award and was a top 10 MLB player. Over the next five years he dropped to a top 30 player which isn't bad, but not at the expectations he had set. And this year, he not even the best player on a team that will lose close to 90 games.

Everytime they ask about injuries, they say healthy and there would be no reason to hide an injury. Even before the concussion last year, you could start seeing some signs of a decline. It used to seem like he had very few holes in his swing, but last year his strike outs increased and his hitting with RISP dropped from a career average of .340 to .247 (this year it's down to .150). It looks like pitchers have found a weakness. It happens with age and it seems early for Mauer to fall into this, but maybe the expectation should be that of a .280 hitter, not a .320 hitter.

Considering trade offers should always be looked at if you are not contending, certainly on players who are not signed for next year. You would have to blown away with an offer for Hughes or Dozier to consider trading them sense they are under team control for a reseasonble amount.

People at AAA are and they are already on the 40 man roster.

The problem for Pino and Achter is not being on the 40 man roster. They have competition that are putting up similar stats and are already on the roster, so it make it difficult for them to get call up.

Completely agree, I have not been a huge Hicks fan based on what he done, but I can't blame the Twins for bring him up after the huge spring training. But once he showed he couldn't hit, they needed to send him down to AAA. At this point, we are just running the major league services time for an unproductive player. We are making more difficult for him to become the player people believe he can be, plus the Twins put themselves in a place where they will have to pay him early if they think he has a future.

The Antony comment shouldn't surprise anyone, Ryan is the one who promoted him to his position. Also Ryan has been in regular contact with Antony, so it sounds like Ryan has had input into the moves this year.

Why so serious? Just because you have a headache doesn't make it a tumor.

This really shows the problem with signing players like Correia and Pelfrey to 2 year contacts. The Twins have marginal big league pitchers holding back prospects and the pitchers you signed really don't have much trade value.