Should the twins trade Mauer?

[dickay]

Morneau's the expendable guy, not Mauer. If they can't afford both, they should keep Mauer and trade Morneau. But, my guess is that they can afford both.

thats just the crux for me. considering the risks, i'd rather keep morneau at 15 mil per for not a lengthy period (thru 2012 i believe). He's the picture of consistency, great OBP, good power, and plays everyday. I don't buy that Mauer is the power hitter we saw last year, he's great obp and ba but also has had some scary injuries for a catcher. Plus the return i could get for him and not add the lengthy contract risk, i'd rather keep morneau.

I just look at the Sox giving Hanley plus away for Beckett and a contract and can't fathom letting mauer walk for two unknown future draft picks.

[TheNamelessPoet]

thats just the crux for me. considering the risks, i'd rather keep morneau at 15 mil per for not a lengthy period (thru 2012 i believe). He's the picture of consistency, great OBP, good power, and plays everyday. I don't buy that Mauer is the power hitter we saw last year, he's great obp and ba but also has had some scary injuries for a catcher. Plus the return i could get for him and not add the lengthy contract risk, i'd rather keep morneau.

I just look at the Sox giving Hanley plus away for Beckett and a contract and can't fathom letting mauer walk for two unknown future draft picks.

That I think was a different situation tho... Florida doew not do things the way everyone else does.

in reguards to the 1st point... you can go get a 1B... how many catchers hit .320+, have an OBP .400+ with 15+ HR and have EXCELENT defense? Not many... How many 1B are out there that can hit 30 HR?

[HoustonGM]

thats just the crux for me. considering the risks, i'd rather keep morneau at 15 mil per for not a lengthy period (thru 2012 i believe). He's the picture of consistency, great OBP, good power, and plays everyday. I don't buy that Mauer is the power hitter we saw last year, he's great obp and ba but also has had some scary injuries for a catcher. Plus the return i could get for him and not add the lengthy contract risk, i'd rather keep morneau.

For all this talk about Mauer's durability, the guy has played 130+ games in 4 out of the last 5 seasons, which is very good for a catcher (yes, some of that is at DH, but that's necessary to keep him rested). I'd rather pay $18-20 mil for a 130 OPS+ from my catcher than $15 mil for a 130 OPS+ from my first basemen. Morneau is overrated. He's a middle of the pack first basemen - the position is loaded with talent. Joe Mauer is undoubtedly the best catcher in the game and it isn't close. Morneau's a 3-4 win player. Mauer's a 7-8 win player. The cost of a win is roughly $3.5 mil on the open market - meaning Mauer's value is somewhere about $12 million above Morneau's. If I can get Mauer for $5 million more than Morneau, that's an absolute steal. Yes, long term is a risk, but one of the top players in the game is worth that risk. Plus, I think you're really overemphasizing the injury concerns. They're legitimate, but not this death knell that you're making them out to be.

I just look at the Sox giving Hanley plus away for Beckett and a contract and can't fathom letting mauer walk for two unknown future draft picks.

I can't fathom trading away one of the top 5 players in the game in the middle of the season while my team has a good shot at the playoffs. Has anything remotely similar to that EVER happened?

Really, my main disagreement with you isn't that you wouldn't sign Mauer to a long-term deal. Even though I would, it's reasonable to think you're better off not signing him long-term. It's your thought that the Twins should trade him mid-season regardless of they're contention status that is outrageous to me.

[Jeffy25]

sounds like a deal might be finalized today.

8 year 170 million...with two option years at around 23-25 a year each.

[StreetMedic]

I like HGM's metrics.

But, for me, it's simpler:

What does it cost to build a new stadium?

Because if the Twins ever traded away Mauer, the fans would likely burn the place to the ground, anyway.

[Jeffy25]

http://www.startribune.com/sports/tw...7PQLanchO7DiUr

[BenFink]

I like HGM's metrics.

But, for me, it's simpler:

What does it cost to build a new stadium?

Because if the Twins ever traded away Mauer, the fans would likely burn the place to the ground, anyway.

Agreed