Well, as long as they're "just friends" then cause Grady might get jealous...

If the twins want to keep Mauer they had better be ready to pony up the money, it doesn't matter who they bring in.

Who is Mauer's agent?

QUOTE(#2):

Originally posted 07:13 AM ET  11.18 by jnorman41

If the twins want to keep Mauer they had better be ready to pony up the money, it doesn't matter who they bring in.

Correct 110%.

They'll keep him. Still, I see this thread as an opportunity for various meat heads to espouse their well-thought out theories on the Yankees swooping in with a truckload of cash and signing him, even though they will have no need for him whatsoever.

QUOTE(#5):

Originally posted 08:25 AM ET  11.18 by Atro Steals Yer Base

They'll keep him. Still, I see this thread as an opportunity for various meat heads to espouse their well-thought out theories on the Yankees swooping in with a truckload of cash and signing him, even though they will have no need for him whatsoever.

its getting pretty deep out there atro..not sure if I can take the "yanks will swoop in and get mauer, gonzalez, halladay, lackey, bay and holliday" rumors anymore....

QUOTE(#6):

Originally posted 08:38 AM ET  11.18 by Me DUM DUM!

its getting pretty deep out there atro..not sure if I can take the "yanks will swoop in and get mauer, gonzalez, halladay, lackey, bay and holliday" rumors anymore....

If you were to take all those comments at face value, assuming we let Matsui and Damon go, at least two of those guys would still need to learn how to toss a bag of peanuts.

QUOTE(#6):

Originally posted 08:38 AM ET  11.18 by Me DUM DUM!

its getting pretty deep out there atro..not sure if I can take the "yanks will swoop in and get mauer, gonzalez, halladay, lackey, bay and holliday" rumors anymore....

Hey don't you guys know, the Yankees buy everybody. Especially anyone coveted by the Sox. if Theo the Wonder Boy said he coveted Teddy Ballgames head, why the Yanks would sweep in and buy all of Balcor.

QUOTE(#8):

Originally posted 09:08 AM ET  11.18 by RobPLS

Hey don't you guys know, the Yankees buy everybody. Especially anyone coveted by the Sox. if Theo the Wonder Boy said he coveted Teddy Ballgames head, why the Yanks would sweep in and buy all of Balcor.

i think Teddy Ballgame's head would fit nicely on a stick in the dugout and it can be used for a rallying tool in late innings!

QUOTE(#9):

Originally posted 09:11 AM ET  11.18 by Me DUM DUM!

i think Teddy Ballgame's head would fit nicely on a stick in the dugout and it can be used for a rallying tool in late innings!

There's also the thought that rehabbing players could use it while they hit off a tee under the stadium ... Teddy's head has certainly passed the endurance test with flying colors ... and flying little bits of Teddy's head ....

QUOTE(#9):

Originally posted 09:11 AM ET  11.18 by Me DUM DUM!

i think Teddy Ballgame's head would fit nicely on a stick in the dugout and it can be used for a rallying tool in late innings!

That's "cold".

QUOTE(#5):

Originally posted 08:25 AM ET  11.18 by Atro Steals Yer Base

They'll keep him. Still, I see this thread as an opportunity for various meat heads to espouse their well-thought out theories on the Yankees swooping in with a truckload of cash and signing him, even though they will have no need for him whatsoever.

I don't think you can say they have no need for him what so ever. I don't care who the Yankees have coming up the ranks. Any team has a need for a two time batting champ catcher and Gold glove catcher.

He will stay a Twin as long as they can add some players. The Twins should go out and throw some $$ at Lackey and show Maure they are gonna do something to support him. That is they only way the Twins will lose him by not making an effort to make the team better. It will not come down to $$ for him.

QUOTE(#5):

Originally posted 08:25 AM ET  11.18 by Atro Steals Yer Base

They'll keep him. Still, I see this thread as an opportunity for various meat heads to espouse their well-thought out theories on the Yankees swooping in with a truckload of cash and signing him, even though they will have no need for him whatsoever.

Not really. The way I see it is that the Yankees are just about maxed out. We shall see.

QUOTE(#12):

Originally posted 10:17 AM ET  11.18 by slapshot27

I don't think you can say they have no need for him what so ever. I don't care who the Yankees have coming up the ranks. Any team has a need for a two time batting champ catcher and Gold glove catcher.He will stay a Twin as long as they can add some players. The Twins should go out and throw some $$ at Lackey and show Maure they are gonna do something to support him. That is they only way the Twins will lose him by not making an effort to make the team better. It will not come down to $$ for him.

By 2012 Spring training there's a good chance we'll have a gold glove and/or batting champ catcher ourselves. Not to mention that after two more seasons, nobody, the Twins included, is going to have Mauer wrecking his knees behind the plate anymore. He'll be a power-hitting first baseman for whomever he signs with, and the Yankees are all set in that department. That's a big reason why you actually should care about who is coming up through the ranks.

QUOTE(#14):

Originally posted 11:07 AM ET  11.18 by Atro Steals Yer Base

By 2012 Spring training there's a good chance we'll have a gold glove and/or batting champ catcher ourselves.

MonteroRunsALin2012? He may turn out to be a good major league catcher, but he's got a slim chance of being a batting champ. Only three catchers in the history of modern baseball have ever won a batting title.

I don't care how many friends are on a team, money talks.

QUOTE(#14):

Originally posted 11:07 AM ET  11.18 by Atro Steals Yer Base

Not to mention that after two more seasons, nobody, the Twins included, is going to have Mauer wrecking his knees behind the plate anymore.

I don't think it's a foregone conclusion that he'll be moved. If he develops a health issue I could see it, but otherwise, his bat is well more valuable as a catcher than a first baseman.

If Joe Mauer goes to any other team it will be the feel bad story of the year, the hometown boy should play for the hometown team for his whole career, it is so rare these days and would be something to smile about among all the junk with steroids and money these days.

QUOTE(#18):

Originally posted 12:34 PM ET  11.18 by TK421: Not at my Post

If Joe Mauer goes to any other team it will be the feel bad story of the year, the hometown boy should play for the hometown team for his whole career, it is so rare these days and would be something to smile about among all the junk with steroids and money these days.

I agree...it's so rare that a player is able to play for his hometown team, much less be the most loved player in the state, across all sports. It would be different if he didn't play on a good team, though. I think the Twins have enough young talent around Mauer to entice him to stay.

The reality is that Mauer might become the best free agent prospect ever. The Yankees, Red Sox, Dodgers, Mets, Cubs, and all the rest should all be lining up to talk to this guy. The Twins have a nice window to get the hometown boy to sign an extension and keep the sharks away. What happens here will determine if Baseball's non salary cap/revenue sharing system works or not. The Twins move into a sparkling, modern outdoor ballpark next year. Their fans have waited 50 years for this kind of home. They should have significantly higher revenue streams available to them that they can use to lock Mauer up now. If they are unable to do so and Mauer goes the highest bidder like the Yankees or Red Sox, then the system is broken. Mauer is a Minnesota native, he's the heart of their franchise and the Twins will never recover if they lose the best young player in the game. Sign him now while you can.