Mauer in MN... good for MLB PR?

by pinstriper on Dec 22, 2009 6:08 PM EST

I posted this in a reply to a different thread but it occurred to me it might merit a fanpost of its own. Interested in hearing what people think of this angle on Mauer's upcoming free agency and what it means for baseball.

Everyone hears those quiet but consistent murmurs about MLB closing out the chances of the smaller market teams. I don't agree, but there's a body of people who accept that as gospel... and whenever a larger market club reaches the playoffs, advances in the playoffs, reaches the World Series, or (gasp) wins the World Series, the rumblings grow louder. In a purely mercenary business sense, that's not good for baseball and probably keeps a certain number of fans from coming to the games, watching on TV, buying merchandise, etc.

If Mauer bails on MN it will confirm the paranoid fears of the fark-baseball crowd. In fact, it's almost worth it for MLB public relations as well as future earnings if the other owners get together and each pay MN a little to keep Mauer there. Whatever baseball would spend in Mauer's contract, I'd guess they see back threefold by being able to market the fact that the homegrown boy-made-good is playing for his hometown team.

As a Yankee fan, I'm conflicted. A part of me would of course love to add him to the Yankees lineup! Especially as a replacement for Posada and perhaps even a mentor for Montero. But there's another part of me that thinks it's better for all of baseball that he remains a Twin for his entire career. He's basically their Derek Jeter.

Poll

Would Joe Mauer leaving the Twins for a big market team like the Yankees have negative public relations fallout for baseball?

Yes, absolutely! Would be a black eye for MLB.

27 votes

Probably, though it's not that big a deal.

26 votes

It's no better or worse than any other free agent signing.

20 votes

Nope, won't matter a bit.

12 votes

Wha!?! Where do you come up with such whacked thoughts?

7 votes

92 votes | Poll has closed

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Comments

So Mauer

Should bend over and take it in the ass and make chicken feed compared to the elite players in baseball because it will give a black eye to the MLB? Yeah, tell that to the Player’s Association which will make sure he goes to the highest bidder for the good of the other players.

by HappyLuckyGoldenDragonNumber1! on Dec 22, 2009 6:18 PM EST reply actions

You know full well I didn’t advocate that, but be as colorful as you want. Makes for good conversation.

by pinstriper on Dec 22, 2009 6:48 PM EST up reply actions

Well thats the thing

Baseball is a business. The players are contract employees. To say a player should not try and get the most for his talent because it would make poor Timmy in Minnesota feel sad because Pohland is too cheap to write the REAL check then so be it. To say he should just give a 40 million dollar home town discount (which is probably gonna be the difference between what the Twinkies offer and what Boston and NY will offer) is ridiculous and down right UnAmerican. If he wants to do that because it makes him happy, well good for the Pohland familiy and good for the Twins fans. But if he signs with another team because they are willing to pay him what he is WORTH, no one should get upset with that. Get upset when someone OVERPAYS for a player, Mauer is so good you can give him A-Rod money and I would shrug and say “Totally worth it”.

by HappyLuckyGoldenDragonNumber1! on Dec 22, 2009 7:13 PM EST up reply actions

my thought is

it reflects worse on the small market team owners than it does on MLB as a whole.

I was listening to MLB radio one day and the host of a call-in show mentioned that he was having a hard time seeing how any fans of the Pirates, Royals, Blue Jays, etc. would still support their team after trading away not only a lot of their MLB proven talent, but some of their prospects as well.

In the end, businesses fail because of poor management, not poor performance by it’s employees (usually). I think that the MLB should let the small market teams fail until they find better owners and front office management. Look at the Orioles, the Nationals, the Marlins, the Royals, the Pirates, and the A’s. What were once perennial playoff contenders are now jokes because of their owners and management, not because of the talent on their teams. Conversely, look at the Rays, a team that used pretty much the same formula as the 90s Yankees: build from within, gather quality veterans to balance the roster and foster the younger players, let them develop together, win.

Also, the owners can’t do what you suggest because that’s called collusion and that’s illegal and MLB and all the teams could be sued by Mauer for that. It limits his viability and potential in the Free Agent market.

by phonty on Dec 22, 2009 6:19 PM EST reply actions

All you have to do to prove you point

is look over in Queens. Same market. Tons of revenue. Shitty ass team year after year.

by HappyLuckyGoldenDragonNumber1! on Dec 22, 2009 6:27 PM EST up reply actions

I think he should definitely stay a Twin.

He obvisously has the potential to be the next big deal, the next Jeter would be flattering even for him. But I’m thinkin the Twins organization should be doing more things to ensure a playoff berth. If the Twins do something of the sort this year, I think there’s a big chance Mauer will stay. The organization has to prove something to their star player so they should start by helping the Twins play more than 3 postseason games.

Yankees all day.

"People ask me what I do in winter when there's no baseball. I'll tell you what I do. I stare out the window and wait for spring." ~Rogers Hornsby

"If you're not doing it right, you're doing it wrong. And there's no in between." ~Mark "Lunch" McKenzie

by Onishadow14 on Dec 22, 2009 6:29 PM EST reply actions

From a purely selfish position

This would be huge for the Yankees. If they were to sign Mauer, not only would that be huge, but it sets the team up to get even better. Johnson contract would be up, allowing Posada to be shifted to DH. This however blocks Montero from coming up for a couple years, with firstbase, catcher, and DH taken. They can turn around and trade him for another piece to make the team even better.

by Mr. h on Dec 22, 2009 9:25 PM EST reply actions

You overlooked the simple idea..

that it could let Montero DH.

Posada, by next year..may not be on the same planet that Montero is at the plate.

Isn’t his contract finished after this season anyway?

"It ain't over till its over"---

3rd down + Steve Smith = 1st Down.

"I just saw Avatar, and Sean Avery was hands down the best character!"

by FreeBradshaw on Dec 22, 2009 9:48 PM EST up reply actions

Posada is signed through 2011

by nyyrocks29 on Dec 22, 2009 9:56 PM EST up reply actions

ah..

well..still, Montero should be in the DH mix sooner rather then later, even with Posada here.

"It ain't over till its over"---

3rd down + Steve Smith = 1st Down.

"I just saw Avatar, and Sean Avery was hands down the best character!"

by FreeBradshaw on Dec 22, 2009 10:01 PM EST up reply actions

I hope it happens

just so I can listen to all the stupid shit that comes out of these know nothing Future McDonalds pickle putter on types talk about a salary cap fixing everything over and over again like they have a clue how to handle anything besides a ketchup squirter.

by cashman bashman on Dec 22, 2009 10:10 PM EST reply actions