Why a Mauer Extension is Good for the Yankees
by Brandon C. on Feb 3, 2010 8:00 AM EST
in Analysis
30 comments
The title tells it all. Yankees fans should be thrilled if Joe Mauer signs a contract extension with the Minnesota Twins. Also, if Albert Pujols signs an extension with the Cardinals. Why?
The Yankees realistically do not need Joe Mauer for the future of their catcher position to be safe. The Yankees have Jesus Montero, Austin Romine, Gary Sanchez, and J.R. Murphy, among others, as prospects at catcher. Also, they do have the amazing Francisco Cervelli!
The Red Sox, on the other hand, really do need Joe Mauer to be a free agent come 2011. They could re-sign Victor Martinez no problem, but with his defense declining, and the likelihood that he could ask for big bucks, the Red Sox would much rather spend the money on a younger, more defensively adequate option in Joe Mauer.
Honestly, if Joe Mauer does not re-sign with Twins, the Mets and the Red Sox seem like the two most obvious spots for him to land. The Yankees may be a fit, but why spend the money on someone they do not necessarily need THAT much. With Cliff Lee, Carl Crawford, and Jayson Werth hitting free agency, why not sign 1-2 of them instead?
Pujols is a bit of a different story. It is very, very likely that he re-signs with the Cardinals. I'd put it at 85%. If he does not sign with the Cardinals, the next best option is probably the Red Sox. The Red Sox do have prospect Lars Anderson at first base for the future, but he struggled a bit last season, if I remember correctly. Even if he did not struggle, they would much prefer Pujols.
The second best option if Pujols does not re-sign with the Cardinals? The Mets. Do you really think they will keep Daniel Murphy as their first baseman of the future if Pujols is available?
Overall, the Yankees should definitely want Pujols and Mauer to re-sign with their current teams. Lee, Crawford, Werth? Different stories. Thoughts?
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Thank You, Thank You,
and Thank You…I’ve been saying this since last season.
"What do the Detroit Red Wings and the Titanic have in common?
They both look good until they hit the ice!"
Visit> http://www.bronxbaseballdaily.com/
I happen to agree, as well
I know none of them are Joe Mauer, but the Yankees are flush with catching throughout their system. They will be fine. Pitching, pitching, pitching. Oh, and Carl Crawford. Pretty please.
CATCHER!
The “MONTERO” I have my eye on is the D’Backs, Miguel Montero. This guy really came on in the second half of last season. Promoted to full time when the starter was injuries, Montero hit over .310 in July, Aug. & Sept. to remain their starting catcher. If you have a fantasy BB team you already know there are not that many good catchers out there with a good stick and good D. I think this guy is for real.
by dustproduction on Feb 3, 2010 9:25 PM EST up reply actions
Lee and Crawford
That would be nice.
Imagine Crawford, Granderson , and of course President elect Gardner.
125 SBs from these 3. Off to the races!
WE would have to trade Swisher who should have a good year in return his stock would be at its high, and then SELL SELL SELL!
Lee as well because pitching is the most important aspect of the game. Ahhhhh dreams.
Gardner for President
Lee and Crawford
As I said here before, this is why they let Damon walk.
But just like last year with the Blue Jays, teams would rather trade after the All-Star break if they are out of contention and know they can’t resign a player. This way they get more than a draft pick. If that were to happen, Gardner, Swisher, Winn, Johnson, Gaudin, Blane, and the farm players are in the mix. The Yankees would even eat salary. I doubt the Yankees will even consider giving up Joba or Hughes as they have in the past if a trade comes up in the second half of the season.
by dustproduction on Feb 3, 2010 9:02 PM EST up reply actions
I hopeful we don't get into a bidding war with Mauer/Pujols
and I want to see Jesus come up and claim his heir to the throne. But, I would rather have Lee and Werth. I’d rather have a 35+ HR bat, .275 avg than a .275-.300 bat, .360 OBP, 50+SB, and 12-15 HR bat in a Crawford approaching the wrong side of 30. But that’s me.
Section 203 Row 15 Seat 1
I understand you're reasoning
but I think it’s flawed in Mauer’s case.
It’s a case of expense and value.
Pujols for $25M per year isn’t top value, because you can get a Tex for $20M. He’s a step down offense and defensively, but not a huge step, and you can likely put that $5M to use someplace else on the roster.
But Mauer is worth $25M or $30M because the next step down is a huge step. Yes, it brings the risk that the Red Sox would go all in and add him to their lineup. But if they’re willing to beat the most the Yankees can afford, more power to them. If he signs with the Red Sox, it means they don’t have the money for Crawford or Lee or Beckett or Bonderman or Halladay or Webb.
I’m excited to see Montero. But Murphy’s AA line looked like this: .315/.379/.493. Montero’s? .337/.389/.562. More power, but the rest of the skills look similar. Maybe Montero makes the jump more gracefully, maybe Montero plays better defense (ok, probably). But can’t miss prospects miss.
If a chance to improve the team hits the open market, I say the Yankees should be rooting for it.
"Have faith in the Yankees, my son. Think of the great DiMaggio."
Gotta agree with jscape
Joe Mauer is one of those players who doesn’t come around that often. He hits for power and average, and is pretty good defensively. Montero has great potential but he probably wont be as good as Mauer has been. Plus Mauer is only 26. How many times can you pass up a guy with all of that going for him?
"Son, Nobody is half as good as Mickey Mantle"
Mauer plays for another team and is the enemy.
FK Joe Mauer and everyone who looks like Joe Mauer.
You've got to be very careful if you don't know where you are going, because you might not get there
I have to imagine that if I looked more like Joe Mauer and less like the ugly chud I am, I would enjoy significantly more exciting Saturday nights.
Just sayin’.
"Have faith in the Yankees, my son. Think of the great DiMaggio."
I disagree
The step down from Mauer isn’t as large as all that. We have four catchers in the Minors with a good chance of being better than average catchers. If even one of them becomes a good catcher, that’s six years of catching for at most, 30 million (assuming he gets ridiculous awards in arbitration) compared to the ~8yr 200million contract Mauer would get. That extra money would be enough to sign an extra ace or so for the duration Mauer’s contract. Not to mention that by the end of the contracts, our minor league players will almost certainly be better catchers that Mauer. I’m rooting for the team improving via the open market too, but I think the team would improve more by adding pitching than by adding a catcher.
If, on the other hand, the Yankees didn’t have catching prospects then Mauer would almost certainly be worth it. I guess our differing opinions come from our different faith in the catching prospects we have.
Finally, with regards to Murphy’s AA. It’s true that the lines do look similar, but remember that Murphy was 23 when he put up those lesser numbers.
Catcher
I doubt any of the catchers in the minors will ever start for the Yankees. But catchers are in short supply so I could see the Yankees trade them off to teams in need. There was even talk of Montero switching to OF.
by dustproduction on Feb 3, 2010 9:06 PM EST up reply actions
There is literally no chance that we would allow Mauer to go to the Red Sox
we would double any offer that they made and then trade our catcher prospects.
Adding Mauer to the Red Sox would make them a dynasty team, and there’s no way our ownership would let that happen over the bidding on a free agent.
We would write Mauer a blank check so he didn’t go to the Sox.
This sticker is dangerous and inconvenient, but I do love Fig Newtons.
I had a moment. I was remembering the 2006/ 2007 Bonderman.
"Have faith in the Yankees, my son. Think of the great DiMaggio."
yeah right.
If Joe Mauer becomes a free agent he’s as good as a yankee. They absolutely will need a catcher, in part because montero will not stay at catcher. the red sox will probably not be able to afford him/not want to pay him. and a mauer extension is bad for the yankees. it removes the best catcher in the game from their grasp. duh. this sounds like bad rationalization to me.
the little Red Sox that could
won’t be able to afford him?
Wait…you sound like a Red Sox fan.
…YOU ARE!
CAUGHT!
You've got to be very careful if you don't know where you are going, because you might not get there
Agree 100%
Brandon, you are spot on!!!
Let Mauer & Pujols stay witth their current teams. We definitely would not want either one of them with Boston. Besides we already have Tex & prospect Montero.
Lee and Crawford or Werth is a much better fit for us
by YANKEES FOREVER on Feb 3, 2010 11:23 AM EST reply actions
For the good of baseball
a Mauer extension would be good.
If he hits the market, of course the Yankees would do their due diligence and pursue him. I’d just prefer a player of his ilk stay in Minny.
i dont think any yankee fan is hoping pujols doesnt sign
obviously the yankees wouldnt be getting pujols if he didnt sign so im not sure why its assumed in the article that some yankee fans dont want him to resign with st louis( and by the way its higher then 85%).
mauer on the other hand im mixed on. i do think if he is a free agent the yankees will definitely come away with mauer. montero is not a catcher beyond the next couple of seasons. right now he is young enough to be an ok catcher but that isnt going to last. montero eventually is going to get traded because we have no spot for him at first base and at catcher the yankees are definitely not going to have a longterm catcher who is an unreliable as montero is. if mauers a free agent the yankees dont let the redsox get him no matter what( we all know we’d bid higher). montero can be dealt for major leady ready prospects and players at positions we actually need(more pitching)
Take Mauer, Screw Pujols
Sorry Brandon, but if Red Sox wouldn’t ante up an extra $5 million to keep Bay or lock in Teixeira — and given their recent penchant for broken down “bargain basement” projects like Smoltz, Aki and others — I can’t believe for a second they’d be legit players in the Mauer sweepstakes, except maybe to try driving up the pricetag on Joe. No, if Mauer goes free agent he’s as good as in pinstripes because there is nobody anywhere — not down in the farms and not in MLB or on the horizon - with close to JM’s upside. As for Pujols and his inflated NL East stats, I’ll take Tex any day- a proven Gold Glover, Silver Slugger and class clubhouse guy who gets it done every day in the toughest division in the toughest league in baeball.
For chucks, and giggles, check out “Joe’s Job — The Ballad of Terry Francona” at http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=WvVZQnELQ9s . Must-see for Yankee and BoSux fans alike!
by nyyankeefanforever on Feb 3, 2010 3:30 PM EST reply actions
....And please ignore strike-through in last comment...lol!
Check out “Joe’s Job — The Ballad of Terry Francona” at
by nyyankeefanforever on Feb 3, 2010 3:37 PM EST reply actions
Enough catching prospect
The Yankees can afford to lose Mauer since they have enough catching prospect. Obviously Jesus Montero is the cream of the crop. But if Montero doesn’t make it on the catching position the Yankees still have Austin Romine who is much better defensively.
so you dont think the yankees would sign mauer?
if you would be estatic if he stayed in minnesota then you must not. but if you do think we would sign him then im not sure how losing an opportunity to sign one of the best catchers of all time is something to be estatic about. we would dictate where he signs. we would control those negotiations over the redsox. so i wouldnt mind if he left becasue it would be in our hands. if the yanks want him theyll get him(and i dont see anyway they wont want one of the best catchers of all time)
I Agree
For the good of baseball a Mauer extension would be good.
If he hits the market, of course the Yankees would do their due diligence and pursue him. I’d just prefer a player of his ilk stay in Minny.
by FloridaownsFSU on Feb 3, 2010 10:30 AM PST reply actions 0 recs
Even as a Yankee fan, I would have to agree..I think they will get a deal done in Minnesota, the natives there won’t be very happy to have a new stadium, and let the hometown kid get away…Carl Crawford on the other hand…
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