Would Mauer be the greatest free agent ever? (1 Viewer)

[GroveDiesel]

I was listening to Mike and Mike this morning and Tim Kirchwan said multiple times that Joe Mauer would be the greatest free agent of all time if he made it to free agency. Also said that it would be the biggest free agent loss for any team in history. Joe Mauer is a great player, but this just seems ridiculous, even by ESPN standards.

I mean, Alex Rodriguez? Manny Ramirez? Greg Maddux? Roger Clemons? And that's just over the last 20 years. Am I missing something? Is Joe Mauer THAT good, or is Timmy just that dumb?

 

[SofaKings]

Curt Flood.

 

[shadyridr]

Mauer is better than Manny cuz of his defense and position he plays. He would be a better FA than Maddux and Clemens cuz they were older and were both pitchers. He would be comparable to when ARod was a FA cuz he was young, a great hitter, and played a premier position at the time (SS).

 

[eoMMan]

Mauer is a stud, but he's still just a catcher. I can see him getting a nice chunk of change, but not ARod money.

 

[Wrigley]

Pujols next year

 

[igbomb]

Pujols next year

This. Pujols would be bigger than Mauer.

 

[dparker713]

ARod was significantly better. SS can actually play 150 games and he had the ability to stay at SS longer than Mauer will stay at C.

 

[dparker713]

Pujols next year

This. Pujols would be bigger than Mauer.

He wont be an FA until after the 2011 season, and he'll be 32 or 33.

 

[Wrigley]

Pujols next year

This. Pujols would be bigger than Mauer.

He wont be an FA until after the 2011 season, and he'll be 32 or 33.

Club option for 11, and he'll still be the best player in the game at 32

 

[Smack Tripper]

A-Rod was the greatest in my eyes. 25 years old, world of talent, gold glove D, MVP bat at THE position.

Joe Mauer is a guy who's a back injury at catcher with two big time seasons under his belt. I'd love to have him and I hope he stays in Minny at a hometown discount but this is more columnist puffery to do exactly what we are doing, talk about Tim Kurkjian. Top 10 FA of all time for sure, maybe top 5, but He's not Bonds in 93 or A-Rod big.

 

[dparker713]

Pujols next year

This. Pujols would be bigger than Mauer.

He wont be an FA until after the 2011 season, and he'll be 32 or 33.

Club option for 11, and he'll still be the best player in the game at 32

As I said, he wont be a FA until after 2011. No way the Cards decline a 16 mil option on the guy. And I expect him to still be amazing at 32, but he cant be the best FA of all time at 32 - its just too old.

 

[Statorama]

Remember all the "pundits" that scoffed at them taking Mauer instead of Mark Prior?

 

[igbomb]

Remember all the "pundits" that scoffed at them taking Mauer instead of Mark Prior?

So they were wrong. What's your point? I think it's a well known fact that most of the 'pundits' are morons.

 

[guru_007]

I was listening to Mike and Mike this morning and Tim Kirchwan said multiple times that Joe Mauer would be the greatest free agent of all time if he made it to free agency. Also said that it would be the biggest free agent loss for any team in history. Joe Mauer is a great player, but this just seems ridiculous, even by ESPN standards.I mean, Alex Rodriguez? Manny Ramirez? Greg Maddux? Roger Clemons? And that's just over the last 20 years. Am I missing something? Is Joe Mauer THAT good, or is Timmy just that dumb?

Joe Mauer is good, but this is a whole lot of hyperbole and talk show nonsense.The only reason that he would have had a great free agency is that the two biggest spenders (Red Sox and Yankees) both have pretty glaring holes at catcher, deep pockets, and always looking to one up the other.

 

[dparker713]

I was listening to Mike and Mike this morning and Tim Kirchwan said multiple times that Joe Mauer would be the greatest free agent of all time if he made it to free agency. Also said that it would be the biggest free agent loss for any team in history. Joe Mauer is a great player, but this just seems ridiculous, even by ESPN standards.I mean, Alex Rodriguez? Manny Ramirez? Greg Maddux? Roger Clemons? And that's just over the last 20 years. Am I missing something? Is Joe Mauer THAT good, or is Timmy just that dumb?

Joe Mauer is good, but this is a whole lot of hyperbole and talk show nonsense.The only reason that he would have had a great free agency is that the two biggest spenders (Red Sox and Yankees) both have pretty glaring holes at catcher, deep pockets, and always looking to one up the other.

Mets have a huge hole there too as do several other large payroll clubs.

 

[Wrigley]

Remember all the "pundits" that scoffed at them taking Mauer instead of Mark Prior?

Kills me

 

[PIK95]

Mauer is better than Manny cuz of his defense and position he plays. He would be a better FA than Maddux and Clemens cuz they were older and were both pitchers. He would be comparable to when ARod was a FA cuz he was young, a great hitter, and played a premier position at the time (SS).

Yes, best ever imo.

 

[GroveDiesel]

Mauer is better than Manny cuz of his defense and position he plays. He would be a better FA than Maddux and Clemens cuz they were older and were both pitchers. He would be comparable to when ARod was a FA cuz he was young, a great hitter, and played a premier position at the time (SS).

I can see using age with Clemens because he was 34, but Maddux was 27. Maybe you could ding him for "just" being a pitcher, but I'm not so sure about that.And come on, I know that Manny's defense stinks, but his value as a batter was MUCH higher than Mauer's is. Yeah, Mauer has had 3 seasons with some pretty nice batting averages, but Mauer over the last 4 seasons (his 4 best) has averaged just 12 HRs, 85 runs scored, 81 RBIs, and a .336 batting average. Other than the batting average, those aren't blockbuster offensive numbers. For the position they're fantastic, but Manny was just WAY more valuable as a hitter.Manny's 4 years prior to leaving Cleveland:Averaged 38 HRs, 107 runs scored, 130 RBIs, and a .325 batting average.Maybe Mauer should get more credit for his catching prowess, but I just don't see him being a better FA than Manny.And I hadn't even thought of Bonds. Bonds may blow both of them out of the water.

 

[shadyridr]

Mauer is better than Manny cuz of his defense and position he plays. He would be a better FA than Maddux and Clemens cuz they were older and were both pitchers. He would be comparable to when ARod was a FA cuz he was young, a great hitter, and played a premier position at the time (SS).

I can see using age with Clemens because he was 34, but Maddux was 27. Maybe you could ding him for "just" being a pitcher, but I'm not so sure about that.And come on, I know that Manny's defense stinks, but his value as a batter was MUCH higher than Mauer's is. Yeah, Mauer has had 3 seasons with some pretty nice batting averages, but Mauer over the last 4 seasons (his 4 best) has averaged just 12 HRs, 85 runs scored, 81 RBIs, and a .336 batting average. Other than the batting average, those aren't blockbuster offensive numbers. For the position they're fantastic, but Manny was just WAY more valuable as a hitter.Manny's 4 years prior to leaving Cleveland:Averaged 38 HRs, 107 runs scored, 130 RBIs, and a .325 batting average.Maybe Mauer should get more credit for his catching prowess, but I just don't see him being a better FA than Manny.And I hadn't even thought of Bonds. Bonds may blow both of them out of the water.

Mauer led the league last year in OBP and SLG

 

[Statorama]

Remember all the "pundits" that scoffed at them taking Mauer instead of Mark Prior?

So they were wrong. What's your point? I think it's a well known fact that most of the 'pundits' are morons.

It was just pretty intense at the time, with people taking shots at the Twins for "doing things on the cheap". Just makes me chuckle everytime I think about it.

 

[PIK95]

Maddux=#2 imo.

 

[Frostillicus]

I'm not going to get all fancy with your precious numbers and what not, but if the Twins don't sign him it would kill this city. Not me, depending on what kind of haul they got in a trade, but it would kill the city. Lebron/Cleveland, if that helps.

Seriously, Bill smith needs to just give him whatever he wants and do it soon. Losing Mauer would destroy the team for many, many years. No hyperbole.

 

[thecatch]

And I hadn't even thought of Bonds. Bonds may blow both of them out of the water.

 

[shadyridr]

I was listening to Mike and Mike this morning and Tim Kirchwan said multiple times that Joe Mauer would be the greatest free agent of all time if he made it to free agency. Also said that it would be the biggest free agent loss for any team in history. Joe Mauer is a great player, but this just seems ridiculous, even by ESPN standards.I mean, Alex Rodriguez? Manny Ramirez? Greg Maddux? Roger Clemons? And that's just over the last 20 years. Am I missing something? Is Joe Mauer THAT good, or is Timmy just that dumb?

Joe Mauer is good, but this is a whole lot of hyperbole and talk show nonsense.The only reason that he would have had a great free agency is that the two biggest spenders (Red Sox and Yankees) both have pretty glaring holes at catcher, deep pockets, and always looking to one up the other.

Pretty much everything I read about Mauer's pending free agency, which isn't that much, takes as a given that the two teams who would absolutely bust the bank to get him would be Boston and NYY. Boston, I agree with. But the Yankees have one of the most highly regarded catching prospects who is expected to break in in 2011 with Jesus Montero. There's some talk about him being a DH but he is a catcher so I'm not sure why you would lessen his value by putting him into the easy to fill DH spot. In short, I'm not sure that NYY would be that interested in bidding for Mauer what he's expected to ask.Also, reading an article by MN sports columnist Jim Souhan right now about the possibility of trading Mauer and he brought up Pohlad trying to contract the team a few years ago. I had totally forgotten about that. But if that didn't destroy the fanbase, I don't think saying we can't give Joe $25MM a year for the next 8 years will, either.

Yanks also have Austin Romine who is another good catching prospect

 

[DropKick]

I was listening to Mike and Mike this morning and Tim Kirchwan said multiple times that Joe Mauer would be the greatest free agent of all time if he made it to free agency. Also said that it would be the biggest free agent loss for any team in history. Joe Mauer is a great player, but this just seems ridiculous, even by ESPN standards.I mean, Alex Rodriguez? Manny Ramirez? Greg Maddux? Roger Clemons? And that's just over the last 20 years. Am I missing something? Is Joe Mauer THAT good, or is Timmy just that dumb?

Joe Mauer is good, but this is a whole lot of hyperbole and talk show nonsense.The only reason that he would have had a great free agency is that the two biggest spenders (Red Sox and Yankees) both have pretty glaring holes at catcher, deep pockets, and always looking to one up the other.

Pretty much everything I read about Mauer's pending free agency, which isn't that much, takes as a given that the two teams who would absolutely bust the bank to get him would be Boston and NYY. Boston, I agree with. But the Yankees have one of the most highly regarded catching prospects who is expected to break in in 2011 with Jesus Montero. There's some talk about him being a DH but he is a catcher so I'm not sure why you would lessen his value by putting him into the easy to fill DH spot. In short, I'm not sure that NYY would be that interested in bidding for Mauer what he's expected to ask.Also, reading an article by MN sports columnist Jim Souhan right now about the possibility of trading Mauer and he brought up Pohlad trying to contract the team a few years ago. I had totally forgotten about that. But if that didn't destroy the fanbase, I don't think saying we can't give Joe $25MM a year for the next 8 years will, either.

Yanks also have Austin Romine who is another good catching prospect

We're not comparing a kid with a couple years at A ball to Joe Mauer, right?

 

[JJP]

Mauer isn't bigger than Bonds (pun intended). And if you go pre-1999 for Bonds, Mauer still isn't better. Bonds became a free agent and since he left, Pittsburgh still hasn't had a .500 season.