Minnesota - The Mauer Years

[YEAH DAAAAWG]

Baker keeps Twins alive with Game Three Shutout

Neal got the scoring started with a two-run bomb off Braden in the fourth inning. With the way Baker was going, that was all we needed. Baker pitched a complete game, 4-hit shutout, striking out seven in the process.

I'm currently undecided on whose gonna pitch Game Four at this point. It's either gonna be Blackburn or Liriano, and it's probably gonna come down to who, if either, has pitched better against them this season.

Oakland Athletics at Minnesota Twins
October 8, 2011

                     1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 +  R  H  E
     Athletics (OAK) 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0    0  4  1
         Twins (MIN) 0 0 0 2 0 0 0 0 x    2  6  0

OAKLAND                      ab  h bb  r hr bi  k sb     avg
Grant Green (SS)              4  0  0  0  0  0  1  0    .300
Ryan Sweeney (RF)             4  0  0  0  0  0  1  0    .289
Michael Taylor (LF)           4  1  0  0  0  0  1  0    .284
Chris Carter (1B)             4  1  0  0  0  0  0  0    .297
Corey Brown (CF)              3  0  0  0  0  0  0  0    .278
Kevin Kouzmanoff (3B)         3  0  0  0  0  0  1  0    .253
Travis Buck (DH)              3  1  0  0  0  0  2  0    .240
Aaron Hill (2B)               3  0  0  0  0  0  1  0    .289
Kurt Suzuki (C)               3  1  0  0  0  0  0  0    .306
TOTALS                       31  4  0  0  0  0  7  0

   E:  Aaron Hill

                 OAKLAND   ip  h bb hr  r er  k pit    ERA
           Dallas Braden  7.0  5  0  1  2  1  2 116   3.58
          Michael Wuertz  0.2  1  1  0  0  0  0  17   4.75
   Fautino De Los Santos  0.1  0  1  0  0  0  0   6   6.38
                  TOTALS  8.0  6  2  1  2  1  2 139

MINNESOTA                    ab  h bb  r hr bi  k sb     avg
Denard Span (CF)              4  1  0  0  0  0  0  0    .302
Jemile Weeks (2B)             4  1  0  1  0  0  1  0    .315
Joe Mauer (C)                 4  0  0  0  0  0  0  0    .302
Thomas Neal (LF)              3  1  1  1  1  2  0  0    .313
Jason Kubel (DH)              3  1  1  0  0  0  0  0    .280
Adrian Beltre (3B)            4  1  0  0  0  0  1  0    .248
Hunter Pence (RF)             3  1  0  0  0  0  0  0    .268
J.J. Hardy (SS)               3  0  0  0  0  0  0  0    .250
Aubrey Huff (1B)              3  0  0  0  0  0  0  0    .247
TOTALS                       31  6  2  2  1  2  2  0

   2B:  Jemile Weeks
   HR:  Thomas Neal

               MINNESOTA   ip  h bb hr  r er  k pit    ERA
             Scott Baker  9.0  4  0  0  0  0  7 105   4.00
                  TOTALS  9.0  4  0  0  0  0  7 105

     WP: Scott Baker
     LP: Dallas Braden

     Temperature: 43F
     Wind: 4 MPH (left to right)
     Attendance: 48,362
     Time: 2:26

[ewing6]

my gut is telling me liriano.

[YEAH DAAAAWG]

Twins force decisive Game 5!

Blackburn started the game due to good numbers against the A's this season, holding them to a .259/.259/.296 line during the regular season. He started a little shaky, allowing two runs on two homers in the second inning, but settled down from there and finished the game going seven innings and allowing just the two runs.

The bats were definitely the difference in this game, though. Jemile Weeks broke our offense open with a two-run bomb in the third, which Neal followed up with a homer of his own the next inning.

We're turning to the obvious ace of the team Zack Greinke in Game 5. I don't think there's a pitcher in the league anyone would take over Greinke in a game like this.

Oakland Athletics at Minnesota Twins
October 9, 2011

                     1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 +  R  H  E
     Athletics (OAK) 0 2 0 0 0 0 0 0 0    2 10  0
         Twins (MIN) 1 0 2 1 1 1 0 0 x    6 10  1

OAKLAND                      ab  h bb  r hr bi  k sb     avg
Grant Green (SS)              4  3  0  0  0  0  0  0    .300
Ryan Sweeney (RF)             4  0  0  0  0  0  0  0    .289
Michael Taylor (LF)           4  0  0  0  0  0  0  0    .284
Chris Carter (1B)             4  1  0  1  1  1  1  0    .297
Corey Brown (CF)              4  1  0  0  0  0  2  0    .278
Kevin Kouzmanoff (3B)         4  3  0  1  1  1  0  0    .253
Travis Buck (DH)              4  2  0  0  0  0  1  0    .240
Aaron Hill (2B)               4  0  0  0  0  0  0  0    .289
Kurt Suzuki (C)               3  0  0  0  0  0  1  0    .306
TOTALS                       35 10  0  2  2  2  5  0

   2B:  Grant Green 2
   HR:  Chris Carter, Kevin Kouzmanoff
   GDP:  Aaron Hill, Travis Buck

                 OAKLAND   ip  h bb hr  r er  k pit    ERA
           Trevor Cahill  4.0  6  1  1  4  4  2  81   3.81
            Brad Ziegler  1.1  2  1  1  2  2  0  26   2.70
   Fautino De Los Santos  2.2  2  2  0  0  0  2  54   6.38
                  TOTALS  8.0 10  4  2  6  6  4 161

MINNESOTA                    ab  h bb  r hr bi  k sb     avg
Denard Span (CF)              5  1  0  1  0  0  0  0    .302
Jemile Weeks (2B)             3  1  2  2  1  2  0  1    .315
Joe Mauer (C)                 4  0  0  0  0  0  2  0    .302
Thomas Neal (LF)              4  3  0  1  1  2  1  0    .313
Jason Kubel (DH)              4  1  0  0  0  0  1  0    .280
Adrian Beltre (3B)            4  0  0  0  0  0  0  0    .248
Hunter Pence (RF)             4  2  0  2  0  0  0  1    .268
J.J. Hardy (SS)               2  0  2  0  0  0  0  0    .250
Aubrey Huff (1B)              4  2  0  0  0  2  0  0    .247
TOTALS                       34 10  4  6  2  6  4  2

   2B:  Thomas Neal
   HR:  Jemile Weeks, Thomas Neal

   DP:  Aubrey Huff 2, Jemile Weeks 2, J.J. Hardy, Nick Blackburn
   E:  Thomas Neal

               MINNESOTA   ip  h bb hr  r er  k pit    ERA
          Nick Blackburn  7.0 10  0  2  2  2  3 103   3.63
             Sergio Romo  2.0  0  0  0  0  0  2  22   4.65
                  TOTALS  9.0 10  0  2  2  2  5 125

     WP: Nick Blackburn
     LP: Trevor Cahill

     Temperature: 41F
     Wind: 4 MPH (out to right)
     Attendance: 48,678
     Time: 2:49

[YEAH DAAAAWG]

Twins fall despite Greinke's Gem

Wow. If we had gotten any smidgen of offense we'd be going to the ALCS. I literally could not have asked for a better start out of Greinke. He pitched 11 innings, allowed just one run, seven hits, one walk, and struck out 10 batters. But he was over 140 pitches and I couldn't bring myself to leave him out there any longer. I brought in the normally reliable Jesse Crain, and on the first pitch after Greinke's departure from the game Crain allowed Travis Buck to hit his second walk-off home-run of the series.

Better luck next season, I guess .....

Minnesota Twins at Oakland Athletics
October 11, 2011

                     1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 +  R  H  E
         Twins (MIN) 0 0 0 0 1 0 0 0 0 0  1  7  1
     Athletics (OAK) 0 0 0 0 0 0 1 0 0 1  2  8  0

MINNESOTA                    ab  h bb  r hr bi  k sb     avg
Denard Span (CF)              5  0  0  0  0  0  0  0    .302
Jemile Weeks (2B)             5  1  0  0  0  1  1  0    .315
Joe Mauer (C)                 5  1  0  0  0  0  1  0    .302
Thomas Neal (LF)              4  1  1  0  0  0  0  0    .313
Hunter Pence (RF)             4  0  1  0  0  0  2  0    .268
J.J. Hardy (SS)               3  1  2  0  0  0  0  0    .250
Adrian Beltre (3B)            5  0  0  0  0  0  2  0    .248
Brendan Harris (1B)           5  2  0  1  0  0  1  0    .333
Jose Morales (C)              4  1  1  0  0  0  0  0    .232
TOTALS                       40  7  5  1  0  1  7  0

   2B:  J.J. Hardy, Brendan Harris
   GDP:  Denard Span
   CS:  J.J. Hardy
   E:  Jose Morales

               MINNESOTA   ip  h bb hr  r er  k pit    ERA
            Zack Greinke 11.0  7  1  0  1  1 10 145   2.03
             Jesse Crain  0.0  1  0  1  1  1  0   3   3.24
                  TOTALS 11.0  8  1  1  2  2 10 148

OAKLAND                      ab  h bb  r hr bi  k sb     avg
Nyjer Morgan (CF)             4  1  0  0  0  1  0  0    .285
Ryan Sweeney (RF)             5  1  0  0  0  0  1  0    .289
Michael Taylor (LF)           5  2  0  0  0  0  0  0    .284
Chris Carter (1B)             4  0  1  0  0  0  2  0    .297
Grant Green (SS)              5  0  0  0  0  0  0  0    .300
Kevin Kouzmanoff (3B)         5  1  0  0  0  0  4  0    .253
Travis Buck (DH)              5  1  0  1  1  1  3  0    .240
Aaron Hill (2B)               4  1  0  1  0  0  0  0    .289
Kurt Suzuki (C)               4  1  0  0  0  0  0  0    .306
TOTALS                       41  8  1  2  1  2 10  0

   2B:  Aaron Hill, Kevin Kouzmanoff, Michael Taylor, Ryan Sweeney
   HR:  Travis Buck

   DP:  Chris Carter, Aaron Hill, Kevin Kouzmanoff

                 OAKLAND   ip  h bb hr  r er  k pit    ERA
          Brett Anderson  6.0  6  3  0  1  1  2 114   3.39
             Joey Devine  1.0  0  1  0  0  0  1  13   3.43
          Michael Wuertz  2.0  1  0  0  0  0  1  33   4.75
           Andrew Bailey  2.0  0  1  0  0  0  3  35   3.39
            Brad Ziegler  1.0  0  0  0  0  0  0  15   2.70
                  TOTALS 12.0  7  5  0  1  1  7 210

     WP: Brad Ziegler
     LP: Jesse Crain

     Temperature: 58F
     Wind: 2 MPH (out to center)
     Attendance: 35,067
     Time: 3:35

[YEAH DAAAAWG]

A's win World Series in seven Games!



The A's clinched the World Series title with their Game 7 win over the St. Louis Cardinals. The Title is the 10th in their franchise history.

It was not an easy road to for the A's, as the Twins took them to 5 games in the ALDS, and the Tigers took them to six in the LCS. They then had to win games six and seven against the Cardinals on the road.

Dallas Braden gave the A's a great start, going five innings and allowing only one run.

OOC: At least we lost to the eventual World Series champs.....again.

Oakland Athletics at St. Louis Cardinals
November 2, 2011

                     1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 +  R  H  E
     Athletics (OAK) 3 0 0 0 0 0 5 0 0    8  9  0
     Cardinals (STL) 0 0 1 0 0 0 0 0 0    1  8  2

OAKLAND                      ab  h bb  r hr bi  k sb     avg
Nyjer Morgan (CF)             5  3  0  1  0  0  1  0    .285
Ryan Sweeney (RF)             5  1  0  1  0  1  1  0    .289
Michael Taylor (LF)           5  2  0  2  0  3  0  0    .284
Chris Carter (1B)             3  1  2  1  1  2  1  0    .297
Grant Green (SS)              4  0  0  1  0  0  2  0    .300
Kevin Kouzmanoff (3B)         4  1  0  0  0  2  0  0    .253
Aaron Hill (2B)               3  0  0  1  0  0  1  0    .289
Kurt Suzuki (C)               3  1  0  1  0  0  0  0    .306
Dallas Braden (P)             1  0  0  0  0  0  1  0    .250
 Henry Rodriguez (P)          0  0  0  0  0  0  0  0    .000
 Travis Buck (P)              1  0  0  0  0  0  1  0    .240
 Josh Outman (P)              1  0  0  0  0  0  1  0    .000
TOTALS                       35  9  2  8  1  8  9  0

   2B:  Kevin Kouzmanoff, Michael Taylor 2, Nyjer Morgan
   HR:  Chris Carter
   HBP:  Kurt Suzuki, Aaron Hill
   GDP:  Chris Carter
   CS:  Nyjer Morgan

   DP:  Chris Carter 2, Aaron Hill 3, Grant Green

                 OAKLAND   ip  h bb hr  r er  k pit    ERA
           Dallas Braden  5.0  8  4  0  1  1  4  96   3.58
         Henry Rodriguez  1.0  0  0  0  0  0  1  10   4.18
             Josh Outman  3.0  0  4  0  0  0  2  49   4.09
                  TOTALS  9.0  8  8  0  1  1  7 155

ST. LOUIS                    ab  h bb  r hr bi  k sb     avg
Erick Aybar (SS)              4  0  1  0  0  0  0  0    .261
Skip Schumaker (2B)           4  0  1  0  0  0  1  0    .361
Matt Holliday (LF)            3  2  2  1  0  0  0  0    .294
Albert Pujols (1B)            1  1  4  0  0  1  0  0    .352
David Freese (3B)             5  1  0  0  0  0  3  0    .282
Colby Rasmus (CF)             4  0  0  0  0  0  1  0    .280
Jeff Francoeur (RF)           4  2  0  0  0  0  0  0    .295
Yadier Molina (C)             4  2  0  0  0  0  0  0    .291
Lance Lynn (P)                1  0  0  0  0  0  1  0    .132
 Corey Hart (P)               1  0  0  0  0  0  1  0    .284
 Carlos Marmol (P)            0  0  0  0  0  0  0  0    .250
 Blake Hawksworth (P)         0  0  0  0  0  0  0  0    .167
 Tyler Greene (P)             1  0  0  0  0  0  0  0    .236
TOTALS                       32  8  8  1  0  1  7  0

   2B:  Matt Holliday 2
   GDP:  Yadier Molina, David Freese

   DP:  Albert Pujols, Skip Schumaker, Erick Aybar
   E:  David Freese, Jeff Francoeur

               ST. LOUIS   ip  h bb hr  r er  k pit    ERA
              Lance Lynn  6.0  5  2  0  3  3  2  79   3.92
           Carlos Marmol  1.0  3  0  1  5  5  3  30   2.95
        Blake Hawksworth  2.0  1  0  0  0  0  4  30   3.31
                  TOTALS  9.0  9  2  1  8  8  9 139

     WP: Dallas Braden
     LP: Lance Lynn
     SV: Josh Outman

     Temperature: 33F
     Wind: 3 MPH (in from left)
     Attendance: 43,975
     Time: 3:02

[ewing6]

darn man, tough luck again, BTW is chris carter like a 98, because he jumps like a monster from limited sims I've seen.

[YEAH DAAAAWG]

darn man, tough luck again, BTW is chris carter like a 98, because he jumps like a monster from limited sims I've seen.

Yeah, he is. He actually played like crap in the series against us. But he won the AL MVP.

[YEAH DAAAAWG]

Off-season - First Edition

The first order of business with the off-season was to deal with re-signings. Here's how we came out (notable contracts only):

1B Aubrey Huff - Released
INF Alexi Casilla - Awarded 1 mil for one year
CL Jose Mijares - Awarded 2.5 mil for one year
RP Sergio Romo - Awarded 3 mil for one year
RP Pat Neshek - Awarded 900 K for one year

Huff had good counting stats for us, but his rate stats were horrendous. He finished the year with an OPS barely above .700, which, taking into account position, is God-awful. The rest is pretty much cut and dry. We kept the two most talented bullpen pitchers we have at a reasonable price, and another couple role players.

Next up, we went right to work at getting a new deal for Greinke, as his was due to expire at the end of 2012. I wasn't so sure we were gonna be able to do it, as he was asking for nearly 30 million per year for five years to start, but we managed to talk him down and keep him. His new contract is worth 23 million dollars per year over five years, and includes a team option for a sixth year at 29 million. I'm not sure where that ranks among deals for pitchers, but I'd imagine it's right up there.

Now we have to look at what we want to bring in. First base is an obvious hole, but Chris Parmelee experience a sudden and dramatic ratings boost near the end of last season, and is now rated as an 86/92. Ryan Howard is also on the market, but by comparing their vitals and ratings, I think we'd get basically the same production from Parmelee that we would from Howard, and at a very small fraction of the cost. Regardless, Howard does remain an option. After first base, I'm not really sure what we need.

Kubel isn't that highly rated, but he's been extremely productive. But it still couldn't hurt to bring in some insurance in case his ratings start to catch up with him.

Other than him, Beltre may be the one hole on offense. He hit 24 home-runs and played Gold Glove defense, but he managed only a .708 OPS. Only problem is, there aren't any third baseman available in free agency, and I doubt I could get anyone to take his contract and still be able to acquire an upgrade. Maybe Hardy could play 3B and I could sign Alexei Ramirez or Jimmy Rollins to play short? Only problem is I'm hesitant to do that for a few reasons. First off, Hardy is a fantastic defender at shortstop; secondly, after giving Greinke that massive contract, I'm not sure I can afford to bring in any impact free agents without unloading another contract; and lastly, I'd rather allocate any money I can use to improve the bullpen and starting rotation.

That brings me to the next point - the pitching. Our top three starters are good, great if you ask me, but after that there's a drop off. Liriano can be great, but he's inconsistent, and I doubt Blackburn can replicate the success he had this season. I'd like to pick up at least one starter via signing/trade. Lincecum is on the free agent market, but I don't think there's a chance in hell we'll be able to afford him, as he's gonna be looking for at least what Greinke is making, and probably more. I'm definitely gonna try to cut a good deal of payroll to make a run at Lincecum, however. If for no other reason than to drive up the price on the Tigers, who appear to be a heavy suitor at this early stage of the game. Other names we could pursue are:

Cole Hamels 88 - 9-11 W-L, 3.73 ERA, 217.1 IP, 47 BB, 192 K, .233 BAA w/ Phillies in 2011
Aaron Cook 77 - 7-15 W-L, 5.87 ERA, 141 IP, 51 BB, 52 K, .302 BAA w/ Rockies in 2011
Mark Buehrle 76 - 4-17 W-L, 5.42, 176 IP, 57 BB, 91 K, .287 BAA w/ White Sox in 2011

Yeah, the pitching market is bare. However, I think Buehrle and Cook could still do something if they were playing on a good team with an above-average defense, which (surprise!) we have.

The bullpen is another area of concern, but there are plenty of arms on the market for that. We could go after Joakim Soria 90, Ryan Madson 84, Manny Corpas 80, Nick Masset 78, and Mike Gonzalez 76, among others on that front.

[YEAH DAAAAWG]

With eyes set on Lincecum, Twins make pair of trades to free up Payroll

With the intention of making a serious run at Tim Lincecum, we made a pair of trades to free up some payroll space, dealing Beltre, Kubel, and Liriano away.

The first trade will send LF Jason Kubel and SP Francisco Liriano to San Diego. In exchange we pick up third baseman Chase Headley. The trade makes sense for both us because it gives us a replacement for Beltre, and it clears about $10 million in payroll. It makes sense for the Padres because they had no need for Headley with James Darnell 96/100 on the roster, and it gives them a solid innings eater and a good outfield bat.

The second brings in Jamie Hoffman from the Dodgers, for Adrian Beltre, Adrian Salcedo, and a small amount of cash. We were not gonna be able to make a serious run at Lincecum if we didn't unload Beltre's contract, so we packaged a decent prospect (Salcedo) to LA for some payroll flexibility, and a guy who should be able to step into the DH role and put up some okay numbers.

[YEAH DAAAAWG]

Twins make splash of the off-season by signing Tim Lincecum

If this doesn't give us the best rotation in baseball, I don't know what will. The deal extends through 2016 and is worth a cool 24.16 million dollars per season. We had to get into a nasty bidding-war with the Tigers before we could close the deal, but there is no way I was gonna let Lincecum pitch for another team in the AL Central.

We basically have no money left to play with to address the bullpen, but I think the addition of a 27 year-old pitcher whose already won 3 Cy Young awards and made the All-Star team every year he's been in the majors is worth it.

Guilty conscience side note: The original deal was worth $73,550,000 per year for five years, but after I re-calculated contracts, as I do regularly throughout every off-season (so teams don't get hamstrung with wildly overpaid contracts that can result from the new FA-bidding system), it reduced his contract to the above amount. What do you guys think, should I increase his contract some to compensate for the fact that the Tigers were willing to pay him more than what he got after I recalc'd salaries? Or no, since he would've ended up making the same, even if he had signed with the Tigers?

[YEAH DAAAAWG]

2011 Award Rundown

American League

Cy Young Award - MIN SP Zack Greinke 32 GS, 19-6 W-L, 2.03 ERA, 230.1 IP, 45 BB, 231 K, .206 BAA, 5 CG, 4 SHO
MVP Award - OAK 1B Chris Carter 157 G, .297/.452/.580, 35 HR, 119 RBI
Rookie of the Year - MIN LF Thomas Neal 150 G, .313/.447/.523, 27 HR, 99 RBI
Gold Gloves - MIN P Zack Greinke, OAK C Kurt Suzuki, BOS 1B Kevin Youkilis, OAK 2B Aaron Hill, SEA 3B Chone Figgins, CHW SS Alexei Ramirez, OAK OF Ryan Sweeney, MIN OF Hunter Pence, BAL OF Nick Markakis

National League

Cy Young Award - SFG SP Tim Lincecum 34 GS, 22-5 W-L, 2.38 ERA, 227.0 IP, 67 BB, 271 K, .198 BAA, 3 CG, 3 SHO
MVP Award - STL 1B Albert Pujols 162 G, .352/.486/.664, 47 HR, 130 RBI
Rookie of the Year - NYM 2B Reese Havens 127 G, .262/.374/.478, 23 HR, 81 RBI
Gold Gloves - LAD P Aaron Miller, STL C Yadier Molina, STL 1B Albert Pujols, WSN 2B Orlando Hudson, WSN 3B Ryan Zimmerman, ARI SS Stephen Drew, NYM OF Jason Bay, SDP OF Will Venable, MIL OF Ryan Braun

Same Faces, New Places

1B Ryan Howard - $10.2 million per year for 4 years with Chicago White Sox
RF J.D. Drew - $7.2 million per year for 2 years with Washington Nationals
CF Carlos Beltran - $4.1 million per year for 3 years with Atlanta Braves
SP Cole Hamels - $8.5 million per year for 4 years with Oakland A's
CL Joakim Soria - $7.3 million per year for 3 years with Detroit Tigers
SS Alexei Ramirez - $9.5 million per year for 3 years with Chicago Cubs
2B Robinson Cano - $2.65 million per year for 4 years with Florida Marlins

[YEAH DAAAAWG]

Mauer trade on Horizon?

I've made a large number of impact trades and/or signings since taking over the Twins and starting this dynasty, and I still don't have my team quite the way I want it. Trading Joe Mauer could be the answer to that. He's due 16.4 all the way through until 2018, and with almost 50 million invested in the combination of Greinke and Lincecum, I don't relish the idea of having another 16 million tied up in one player, especially for six more years. His offense is valuable at catchers, but he may be approaching that age, at 28 years old, where the toll of catching starts to catch up with him and a position switch to first base is in order. The problem, however, is replacing his defense behind the plate. He's a Gold Glove caliber defensive catcher, and those aren't exactly a dime a dozen. I'd like to swing Mauer for a young, cheap, talented first or third baseman. I'd then flip Parmelee for a catcher.

For Mauer, I've had Toronto offer me 25 year old first baseman David Cooper. Cooper is making the minimum 420K until 2014, and is an excellent player both offensively and defensively at first base. He's got 90 contact, 87 power, 87 eye, 85 arm, 96 range, 81 fielding ratings, and I feel like he could replace Mauer's production. But the only decent catcher I've been offered for Parmelee is Hank Conger, who is not what I'm looking for defensively. I'm gonna look into swinging a deal, for Yadier Molina, though. If I can get Molina off the Cardinals and send Mauer to the Blue Jays for Cooper, consider this a done deal.

[jshaw]

you should give Tim to the Tigers

[YEAH DAAAAWG]

you should give Tim to the Tigers

No thanks, lol. I was not willing to have him on a division foe.

[YEAH DAAAAWG]

Twins send fan favorite Mauer to Blue Jays

After giving Greinke and Lincecum two of the richest deals even given to pitchers in Major League Baseball, I immediately started exploring ways to unload Mauer's enormous contract. With Mauer on the team, I had over half my payroll tied up in three players (Greinke, Lincecum, and Mauer combined for almost 70 million dollars in payroll). I could see that Neal was the future of the team as a hitter, and I wanted to make sure I would have space to re-sign him when he undoubtedly asks for a massive contract after his arbitration years are up in a couple years.

After some painstaking finagling and getting shot down on multiple other offers, this is what I came up with. I will send Joe Mauer 96 to the Blue Jays in return for first baseman David Cooper 89 and reliever Daniel Farquhar 76, and I then send Jamie Hoffman 78 and Jesse Crain 81 to the A's for Gold Glove catcher Kurt Suzuki 79.

I felt like Cooper could probably replace Joe's production on his own, and even if he couldn't the continued maturation of Thomas Neal should more than make up for Joe's departure. As such, my main concern with dealing Mauer was acquiring a capable defensive catcher, and who better than the reigning AL Gold Glove winner at catcher. The A's get a reliable bullpen arm and a good depth outfielder/DH for the sure-handed Suzuki. Meanwhile, the Blue Jays get one of the best players in the game, and almost assuredly the best catcher in the game, for an All-Star level first baseman.