TwinsFest: Mauer’s situation overshadows all
EDIT:
The original article was updated with a video:
Allie Zoeller of Fairmont, Minn., who had a jersey for Joe Mauer to sign Friday at TwinsFest, reminded the catcher about the day she was on the field for batting practice before a game last year when he went 4-for-4.
The AL MVP, who could become a free agent in the fall, said he doesn’t want his Twins contract sutation “to be a distraction.”
By JOE CHRISTENSEN, Star Tribune
Last update: January 29, 2010 – 9:43 PM
The line for Joe Mauer’s autograph started outside the Metrodome at 8 a.m. Friday. He was eight hours from signing, and the temperature was minus-4.
Travis High, 27, and friends planned accordingly, lugging a portable fish house and propane heater onto the sidewalk near Gate H. By 3 p.m., a line of shivering fans had formed behind them, winding around the block.
When the doors finally opened for TwinsFest an hour later, fans could be seen sprinting through the concourse toward Mauer’s signing area. It was like the Running of the Bulls, only these were humans wearing boots and heavy jackets, lugging baseball bats and oversized Mauer pictures.
Tim Higgins, one of the first through the line, had Mauer sign an enlarged Sports Illustrated cover, then whispered to the catcher, “I hope you stay.”
With Mauer entering the final year of his contract, his uncertain future was the elephant in the big blue room, though most fans interviewed for this story said they were confident the Twins will be able to keep their hometown catcher.
“If they let him go, it’s a big mistake,” Higgins said. “It’d be heartbreak city for a lot of fans.”
Earlier Friday, manager Ron Gardenhire told reporters, “I don’t sit and fret about [Mauer's contract].”
“I think the right thing’s going to happen,” he added. “I think we all know the ramifications if something were not to happen and we go the other way. It wouldn’t be a good thing for anybody, other than maybe for some clubs out East.”
The New York Yankees and Boston Red Sox are among the teams expected to pounce if Mauer ever reaches free agency. The soonest that could happen is mid-November, but the start of spring training (Feb. 21) seems to loom as a soft deadline for a contract extension.
Mauer didn’t say this in as many words Friday, but he said, “I just don’t want it to be a distraction from what we’re trying to do as a team for 2010. I just want to prepare for the season and hopefully not be the focus of everything because we’ve got a great lineup coming in.
“I’m really excited about [Jim] Thome coming in, [Carl] Pavano’s back — it’s good to see him. We’re looking pretty good heading into 2010, and I hope that doesn’t take away from any of that.”
On Thursday, at the Twins’ annual Diamond Awards banquet, Mauer said he hopes he can play his whole career in Minnesota. He wants to win a World Series and said he can see that happening here.
Later, Twins CEO Jim Pohlad told the audience he’d lost his wallet, instructing anyone who found it to kindly bring it to his table.
“Actually, you may as well take it over to Joe,” Pohlad said, drawing a pretty good laugh.
With two Gold Gloves, three batting titles and an MVP award — all before age 27 — Mauer likely will command a six or seven-year extension worth between $20 million and $25 million per year.
Twins General Manager Bill Smith declined to say how the talks were going with Mauer’s agent, Ron Shapiro.
Asked if it will be resolved by spring training, Gardenhire said: “I would sure think so. I’m not positive. I’m not involved in it. In all honesty, I don’t talk to Billy about it.
“I’m going to let them do their thing. I think everybody knows what needs to get done here. From our owners to our general manager to our fan base, we all know what everybody wants, so it’s right there for us.”
The Twins just need Mauer’s signature, and he gave away plenty of those Friday. The team charged $25 for his autograph station, with all proceeds benefiting the Twins Community Fund.
For 75 minutes, Mauer politely greeted fans and signed jerseys and posters wherever they requested. His unfortunate signing partner was teammate Kevin Slowey.
About half the fans who stopped for Mauer’s autograph walked right past Slowey with barely a nod. Many were too busy staring at Mauer’s signature — the big J, the big M, and the number 7 — to notice anyone else.
Slowey, who went 10-3 last season, feigned disappointment, but several fans brought pictures for him to sign, too. Finally, a fan approached Slowey with a blank baseball. He looked up and smiled, saying, “Do you want me to sign it, ‘Joe Mauer’?”