MN Sports Blog

Joe Mauer was a near-unanimous choice for the American League Most Valuable Player. Mauer received 27 of 28 first place votes leaving him with 327 points with Mark Teixeira next in line with 225 points. Mauer is only the second catcher in the last 33 years to win the MVP. This follows in impressive run by the Twin lefties after Justin Morneau brought the award home in 2006.

Mauer continues to set the bar extremely high for himself in terms of success by having a career year with the Twins. Mauer smashed his previous home run record of 13 in 2006 with 28 in ’09. He finished with career bests in RBIs with 96, slugging % with .587, and hits with 191 all while missing an entire month of the season.

The Minnesota Twins know they have to lock up Mauer long term but they also know this further cements the notion that he will command one of the biggest contracts in baseball. The 2010 season will mark the final year of Mauer’s current four-year $33 million deal. Both sides have obviously expressed interest in a long term deal but the talks have been relatively quiet thus far.

Mauer would command huge money on the free agent market with the obvious, unfortunate interested parties of course being the Yankees/ Red Sox type. Mauer is a St. Paul native and has expressed that he is much more interested in winning rather than the biggest paycheck. Hopefully the Twins can grow a pair and sign him to a 50-year $whatever-he-wants-million deal.

Minnesota Sports Blog

While former Twin Torii Hunter won his ninth consecutive Gold Glove, Joe Mauer did his best to start a streak of his own winning his second Gold Glove. Joe made just three errors in 758 chances. This backs up Mauer’s incredibly impressive 2009 campaign considering he didn’t play the first month of the season and didn’t play in Spring Training. Mauer has always taken great pride in his defensive skills and this gives him the recognition for it that I’m sure he’s been working for.

Mauer will also add to his hardware collection with his third batting title and is also in consideration for the American League’s Most Valuable Player award. The MVP announcement will be made on November 23rd.

Update 11/13/09

Joe Mauer added yet another piece to his hardware collection winning the Silver Slugger award for the catching position in the American League. The Silver Slugger award is given to the best offensive player in each league at each position and are chosen by managers and coaches who cannot vote for players on their own team.

Mauer hit for an AL best .356 average, .587 slugging %, 96 RBIs and a career best 28 home runs in his shortened version of the 2009 season.

Minnesota Sports Blog