Why Joe Mauer will stay in Minnesota
With the season over and baseball taking a backburner to football, basketball and hockey, many Twins fans are interested in what the direction of the Twins will take for the upcoming season. Despite the country mile hole at third base, the need for a shut down starter, and the fact that they have three second basemen, all of who are the same talent-wise, most of us are more concerned about the future of Joe Mauer in a Minnesota uniform. If you are a die hard Twins fan like myself, nothing makes me want to go on shooting spree more than the thought or sight of Joe in a Yankee uniform. But I am here to tell you that day is not going to happen. Joe Mauer is going to resign with the Twins and I’m going to tell you why!
There are several reasons why Joe will sign with Minnesota but let’s start with a few obvious ones shall we. First of all, Joe Mauer was born and raised in St Paul. That makes him a Minnesotan by birth. So he is playing in the state that is near and dear to him. Loyalty above all else except honesty. He was already a legend in the state long before he even was drafted by the Twins in 01 draft. At Cretin-Durham High School he was all-state in baseball four times, twice in basketball, and was the National Player of the Year in football his senior year. He chose the Twins over a full ride scholarship to play football for Bobby Bowden at Florida State. He chose to sign with the Twins, loyalty above all else except honesty. Secondly, Joe has been quoted saying that playing in front of his grandparents as one of the “highlights of his career”. He has that opportunity 81 times a year right here in the great state of Minnesota. He owns a home outside of the Twin Cities where he told Sports Illustrated, that he still mows his own grass and enjoys doing that on a day off. To Joe Mauer, his family is his home, and his home is Minnesota.
Anyone who knows anything about the Minnesota Twins know that they are a club that rewards loyalty. Kirby Puckett and Kent Hrbek were both offered more lucrative contracts by other teams to sign with them. Each time, Twins management would step up and sign them for similar money. After his MVP season of 06, Justin Morneau was rewarded with a 6 year 80 million dollar contract extension. Both Tom Kelly and Ron Gardenhire were promoted to manager of the Twins after years of instructing and coaching in the Minor Leagues. I only mention this because on October 21, Joe’s older brother Jake was named the Manager of the Fort Myers Miracle, a Class A advanced team in the Minnesota Twins farm system. So not only is his family in Minnesota, but his older brother and hero, Jake, is now a manager in the Twins organization. And again I mention the word Loyalty!
Let’s not also ignore the fact that the Twins have a really good young team. There is an advantage to being on a team that can fly under the radar. Although that may be tougher with a former MVP hitting clean up, and the current MVP hitting in front of him. The Twins have alot to look forward to with the talent they have on the roster. Michael Cuddyer, Denard Span, and Jason Kubel are coming of great productive seasons. Delmon Young seems to be over the hump and is clear to play everyday with the trade for JJ Hardy. Four starting pitchers, Scott Baker, Kevin Slowey, Nick Blackburn and Brian Deunsing under the age of 30.And in Joe Nathan, one of the three best closers in the game. Not to mention a healthy Justin Morneau back, who just happens to be Joe Mauer’s best friend. Loyalty. Joe has mentioned that he wants to be in a place where he can win. That place is right here in Minnesota.
My last point on this issue lies with Ron Shapiro. He is the man who has been the agent for Joe Mauer since he was drafted eight years ago. Ron Shapiro has ties to Minnesota as he was the agent for Twins great Kirby Puckett. Ron Shapiro isnt one of those agents that has hundreds of clients. He runs a small operation with his client list looking like a who is who of professional baseball. Aside from Joe and Kirby Puckett, he also has represented Cal Ripken Jr, Jim Palmer, Brooks Robinson, Eddie Murray, Sean Casey, and Raul Ibanez. Now when I look at that list a couple things jump out to me. One, he has a thing with representing Oriole players. But the second point is one who have to look deeper at. He represented and negotiated contracts for 4 players that played all of their careers with one team. Now with Murray, Casey and Ibanez, they are all modern day players where people switch teams like underwear. Robinson, Palmer, and Ripken all played 20 plus years with one team. Kirby would have played forever with the Twins had glaucoma not shortened his career. Shapiro is noted to be one of the most well respected agents in sports, and has written a book titled, “The Power Of Nice: How To Negotiate So Everyone Wins- Especially you!”. To me he seems like the perfect agent to represent Joe, because he isn’t driven by money, much like Joe, and he will stand up to the players union reps when they try to pinch him to sign with someone else for a ridiculous amount of money.
So in a round about way that is why Joe Mauer will sign with the Twins. Baseball may be a business, but it is still a game. It is the game that still motivates Joe to be the best, not money. Money may make some people rich, but is loyalty that will keep Joe Mauer in Minnesota for the next decade.
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