Ken Rosenthal is reporting that the Minnesota Twins and catcher Joe Mauer have agreed on an eight-year/$184 million contract extension that will keep the native in the Twin Cities for years to come.
-Predicted to have been the hottest free agent in the 2011 market, Mauer will stay put with a Twins squad that won the AL Central on the 163rd game of the season last year in a thriller with Detroit. Despite missing the entire month of April, Mauer hit .365 for the Twins, picking up the AL Batting Title.
-No stranger to a high average, Mauer also found his power increasing. He reached 20 home runs for the first time in his career, and nearly had 100 runs batted in. It is estimated by many that if he remains healthy all season, Joe could potentially reach 40 home runs on a consistent basis.
-The deal is the fourth-highest in Major League history, just behind Alex Rodriguez’s last two contracts and Derek Jeter’s $189 million deal last decade. This could change once fellow slugger Albert Pujols reaches his next contract.
Rosenthal reports the Twins will finalize the deal, so consider this one confirmed.
