Twins sign Joe Mauer to a eight-year, $184 million contract
By: Kelly Thesier/MLB.com
FORT MYERS, Fla. — The Twins have locked up their hometown star for the long-term.
The club has agreed to terms with catcher Joe Mauer on an eight-year, $184 million contract, covering the 2011-2018 seasons. The deal includes a full-no trade clause.
A press conference will be held to announce the deal on Monday night at 7:00 p.m. ET at the Twins Conference Center at the Lee County Sports Complex.
Both Mauer and the Twins have agreed not to comment further on the deal until the press conference on Monday evening.
Mauer, 26, was named the 2009 American League MVP after batting .365 with 28 home runs and 96 RBIs. He is a three-time All-Star and a two-time Gold Glove winner in six seasons with the Twins. The catcher is also one of only 10 players in Major League history to win three-or more batting titles.
A native of St. Paul, Mauer was drafted as the No. 1 overall pick in the 2001 First-Year Player Draft. He has a career batting average of .327. Since making his Major League in 2004, Mauer ranks third among all Major League players in batting behind Ichiro Suzuki of the Mariners (.335) and Albert Pujols of the Cardinals (.334).
Kelly's Corner 
Way to get it done! Glad that we can finally tell all the Yankee fans that thought he was going to be wearing a different kind of pinstripes next year that money can’t buy everything.
This is great fantastic news for the twins , twins fans and fans of baseball. Too many times player got to other teams for the highest dollar. It’s great that Joe Mauer is staying with the Twins and he is one of the best players in the game and will only get better. Congraduations to both the Twins and Joe Mauer for getting this done.
Hooray! Baseball is saved. That would’ve been absolutely tragic if they hadn’t been able to work out a deal.
Thank You twins for showing again why baseball is in the sad state it’s in. I can not believe why anyone would pay someone 184 million dollars to play baseball. When there are places in Minnesota cities where people are need of food and a place to live. Twins ownership my hats off to you.