Should the twins trade Mauer?

[YEAH DAAAAWG]

I was gonna vote yes just because I'd love to see Mauer playing catcher for the Red Sox.

[dickay]

dickay is NWU.

clearly

[MichelleWie]

I think they key in the poll is this:

Should the Twins trade Mauer at some point this year?

All you guys who say it's crazy to trade Mauer because the Twins are a contender, etc,etc.. What do you do then if Minnesota is ten games out at the deadline and it looks like Mauer won't resign? Would you trade him then? What if they're 15 games out? How about games 20 out? Would you trade him then? The whole question is hypothetical so I don't know why everyone is getting their panties in a wad about this. Would it be a good idea to trade him right now? No I don't think it would be. But thats not what the poll asks. I must vote yes because their are situations that could happen this year where they may be better off trading him.

[HoustonGM]

I think they key in the poll is this:

All you guys who say it's crazy to trade Mauer because the Twins are a contender, etc,etc.. What do you do then if Minnesota is ten games out at the deadline and it looks like Mauer won't resign? Would you trade him then? What if they're 15 games out? How about games 20 out? Would you trade him then? The whole question is hypothetical so I don't know why everyone is getting their panties in a wad about this. Would it be a good idea to trade him right now? No I don't think it would be. But thats not what the poll asks. I must vote yes because their are situations that could happen this year where they may be better off trading him.

Most of those questions are answered if you read the thread.

If there was absolutely no way we'd reach an agreement, I'd focus on winning this year and then, come July, if I'm somehow definitely out of it, THEN explore the option of trading him, but if, as expected, I'm contending or far out in front, I'd look to improve the team for the stretch run and the playoffs and hopefully give my fans a great season.

Dickay is arguing that the Twins should trade Mauer regardless of their contention status. He's not saying "There are some situations that could occur that would make it so that the Twins should trade Mauer," like you are, in which case, yes, obviously. He's saying they should trade him no matter what (unless he would agree to a shorter than 7 year contract).

[MichelleWie]

Most of those questions are answered if you read the thread.

Dickay is arguing that the Twins should trade Mauer regardless of their contention status.

Yeah I kinda skimmed over it since it's 7 pages long...So you shoulda voted yes in the poll then. Since it's asking if Minnesota should trade Mauer at some point this year. It's not asking if you would trade him right now.

[HoustonGM]

Yeah I kinda skimmed over it since it's 7 pages long...So you shoulda voted yes in the poll then. Since it's asking if Minnesota should trade Mauer at some point this year. It's not asking if you would trade him right now.

If the question said, "Are there some scenarios in which the Twins should trade Joe Mauer?", I'd vote yes. However, since I believe the most likely scenario is that the Twins contend, I don't think that they should trade Mauer at some point this season.

[dickay]

I do think I should have posted the hypothetical contract that has been rumored, which is 10 years at an average of around 20 mil per. Given that contract to chew on, should they trade him "at some point this year".

To me, thats a no brainer regardless of midseason contention or not, however we don't need to relive that discussion. But I do agree with Michelle, that people could get the impression from the title that its "should they trade Mauer now?" and doesn't give much insight on the contractual obligations they have to incur if they do not trade him and end up resigning him.

[HoustonGM]

I do think I should have posted the hypothetical contract that has been rumored, which is 10 years at an average of around 20 mil per. Given that contract to chew on, should they trade him "at some point this year".

To me, thats a no brainer regardless of midseason contention or not, however we don't need to relive that discussion. But I do agree with Michelle, that people could get the impression from the title that its "should they trade Mauer now?" and doesn't give much insight on the contractual obligations they have to incur if they do not trade him and end up resigning him.

I see no indication as to the 10 year/20 million thing being anything more than a rumor. As I've said, I'd try my best to sign him to 5-7 year deal, AAV somewhere around $20 million...the longer the deal, the more front-loaded I'd make the salaries. If no agreement can be reached, I'd play out the season, and would only try to trade him if midseason was reached and my team was out of contention.

[TheNamelessPoet]

I'd agree with you if the Twins played in the National League. And if you couldn't have front loaded contracts.

to me, if he's not a catcher his value isn't the same. I realize he could be moved to 1st or DH. I just wouldn't want to pay all that coin long term for a catcher without alot of power (this 09 year was likely more of an aberration than the norm) who i may have to move because of knee or back lingering injuries. Who knows the toll taken on his body during catcher 3,4,5 more seasons? Would he be effective moved to 1st or DH? Again...I love Mauer, I just wouldn't want to pay that coin, as the twins, for at least 7 years maybe longer. Some teams can afford that risk IMO, the twins shouldn't.

see above. Lets say 8 years 165 million ok... jus for the hell of it... thats not THAT far off, and its easy #'s... front load the contract...
2011 25
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If the question said, "Are there some scenarios in which the Twins should trade Joe Mauer?", I'd vote yes. However, since I believe the most likely scenario is that the Twins contend, I don't think that they should trade Mauer at some point this season.

if they were not goting to contend for 3+ years there is absolutly NO reason to keep him as he would be peaking and about to start comming down as soon as they were going up... Wasted years. Yes you lose fannies in the seats maybe but in the long run, better option is to trade him... If you are good now... yuo play to win NOW... and that means having one of the greatest offensive players at 1 position EVER in years (maybe even comparable with Gibson.) You CANT trade him even if you are slipping in the middle of the season, as others said unless you are really wowed. I mean if the Offer is Bucholtz, Lester, and Pedroia of course but its not, nor would it be. You CANT take a bunch of unknows for the greatest player in the history of baseball at Catcher.

[HoustonGM]

Okay, I think you're overrating Mauer a bit here.

[dickay]

just curious, how many of these long term large dollar contracts have been front loaded???? Not Manny, not Jeter, not AROD1, not Zito? AROD2 is front loaded but its still a rediculous 20 mil per the last 3 or 4 seasons lol. Even the lesser contracts are backloaded, most notably Bays newest one. Hollidays recent deal is neutral and not front or backloaded. In fact, MOST of these large contracts i've looked at are backloaded.

see above. Lets say 8 years 165 million ok... jus for the hell of it... thats not THAT far off, and its easy #'s... front load the contract...
2011 25
2012 25
2013 23
2014 23
2015 19
2016 18
2017 16
2018 16

while i agree your 8yr 165 probably isn't far off, i don't know why he'd front load it like this personally. And i think it important to realize that they've averaged less than 65mil per in payroll over the last 5-7 years. Lets just say for hahas with their new deal they average 85-90 mil over the next 3-5 years. You're paying one guy more about 30% of your entire payroll.

Plus you've got;

Morneau making 15 mil per thru what 2013?
Nathan making 12 mil per thru 2011.

Thats 52 mil, about 55-60% of your payroll for three players. Thank god I think Cuddyers 10 mil or so comes off the books next year!

They have a bunch of young talents in arbitration years who will be getting raises, most notably Crain, Liriano, and Young. Speculations is that they will add 5-7 mil just in arbitration cases..although its hard to speculate on that at this point, not knowing the years they are going to have or who they will keep. They've also got a ton of guys with 2011 club options they will likely have to let go to field a team.

It will be hard to remain competitive with that type of salary restraints.

[dickay]

Okay, I think you're overrating Mauer a bit here.

something sadly I fear many are doing seeing he's coming off a monster career year. Great player prior....but even you will admit i think that you can't value him off of this last year alone.

[Jeffy25]

Mauer would probably appreciate a front loaded contract...I probably would.

He can earn value on that money over the years.

If he makes 25 million in his first year, and let's say he spends like 5 million of it, and invests what's left after taxes....he can ensure himself a lot of interest for a very long time....time value vs money value.

and by the end of the contract the Twins would still be able to have money for other players....

It could be a win-win, assuming the Twins plan to add to their payroll over the next decade....and they don't mind spending against time value of their cash.

It would be in Mauer's better interest, over the clubs.

[dickay]

Mauer would probably appreciate a front loaded contract...I probably would.

He can earn value on that money over the years.

If he makes 25 million in his first year, and let's say he spends like 5 million of it, and invests what's left after taxes....he can ensure himself a lot of interest for a very long time....time value vs money value.

and by the end of the contract the Twins would still be able to have money for other players....

It could be a win-win, assuming the Twins plan to add to their payroll over the next decade....and they don't mind spending against time value of their cash.

It would be in Mauer's better interest, over the clubs.

I don't necessarily agree. The club, yes its in their best interest. I don't think know many people who want to have their salary reduced year after year and feeling they are underpaid. I could see him agreeing to a front loaded deal if he's given an opt-out or two near the end (last 3 years or so) of this ficticious contract.

But if both parties get opt-out clauses, I would have a much easier time signing a player to this type of contract in minn.

[Jeffy25]

If he gets a front loaded contract, doubt there will be an early opt out clause....he would almost certainly do it so long as he is still a viable ball player.