Monday, October 26, 2009

Very Comfortable

Last week, John Bonnes sat down with Twins general manager Bill Smith for an interview about the upcoming offseason. The interview, which serves as an addendum for the TwinsCentric Offseason GM Handbook (if you've already purchased a copy, you'll be receiving the interview transcript in full, and of course you'll also get the entire interview included if you buy a copy from this point forward), covered a variety of topics, but today I'm going to focus on a particular portion of the conversation that lasted only a few seconds but may have provided one of the most compelling takeaways.

The Twins have a number of issues to tackle this offseason, but one pretty clearly rises above all others, and that's sorting out the Joe Mauer situation. The likely AL MVP and franchise cornerstone has just one year remaining on his current deal, and could become unaffordable to the Twins if he's able to venture into free agency next winter. I wrote a lengthy essay covering this topic for the Handbook, and ultimately concluded -- as I'm sure most fans have -- that working out a contract extension with Mauer during this offseason is absolutely imperative and should rank as Smith's No. 1 priority.

It was a topic that needed to be broached in the TwinsCentric interview, but Smith has been extremely tight-lipped when the matter of Mauer's contract has come up over the past few months. Seemingly realizing this, Bonnes was very cautious in approaching the subject during the interview, opening his line of questioning by saying, "I'm not sure how much I really want to get into this, but I want to ask a little bit about the Mauer extension." Smith quickly interjected, stating that Bonnes "may want to get into it deeply, but I'm not going to."

And so, John rerouted. "Well, let me ask one question that's not really about the contract," he said. "If an extension doesn't get done by spring training, do you feel comfortable going into next year with Mauer as a walk-away free agent?"

"Well, he's a player signed through 2010," Smith retorted.

Bonnes pressed on. "But for instance, Santana was a player signed for the next year as well..."

Finally, Smith relented and answered the question. "If we think Joe Mauer wants to stay here long-term, yes, we feel very comfortable going into next year."

It could be that Smith responded in this manner only to avoid backing himself into any sort of corner. Still, "very comfortable"? I wrote extensively in my essay for the Handbook about the perils of entering next season without a new contract for Mauer. His impending free agency would serve as an extremely unwelcome distraction as the team tries to build positive public sentiment in Target Field's inaugural season. And, of course, if Mauer makes it to the end of the year without an extension, the New Yorks and Bostons of the world will be able to jump into the bidding, which could put the Twins in a highly precarious position.

So, if indeed the Twins feel that Mauer wants to stay here long-term, it's hard to imagine that they'd actually be comfortable entering next season without a new deal in place. Which brings us to the other question raised by Smith's comment: what if the Twins don't get the sense that Mauer wants to stay?

Being a rather timid St. Paul native with countless ties to this area, it seems highly unlikely that Mauer would be opposed to forging a long-term deal with the Twins. But I suppose it is possible that he has his sights set on the huge money and increased national exposure that would come along with a move to a larger market. Or perhaps he doesn't feel that the Twins will ever be willing to take the steps needed to win a championship. It was a combination of those factors that seemingly fueled Johan Santana's desire to move elsewhere.

If the Twins get the sense that Mauer would like to test the free agent market, one has to believe Smith would not be "very comfortable" at all entering the 2010 season saddled with the risk of losing his star catcher at the end of the year for only a pair of draft picks, and the general manager essentially admitted that fact by including that big old "if" in his answer.

14 comments:

Jesse said...

I call BS. If the Twins don't have Mauer signed by next season it is a statement that he either does not want to be here or that he wanted to be here and the Twins want too big of a discount in dollars and years.

CA said...

I wonder if Smith's "very comfortable" comment is a result of perceived leverage in current or future negotiations with Mauer and his representatives. I also find it hard to believe that the team would be nonchalant about going into next season without an extension for Mauer. However, if Smith publicly stated how important it was to get a deal done, he'd effectively be giving additional negotiation leverage to Mauer AND potentially be setting the team up for an even greater public relations failure if they don't manage to resign him after publicly stating it was a big priority.

Basically, I don't necessarily believe the "very comfortable" part of Smith's answer, but I think it was smart of him to say that, at least from the team's standpoint.

Nick N. said...

CA, right on. That's basically what I was getting at when I noted that Smith may have just been trying to avoid backing himself into a corner.

@dohman said...

CA seems to have summed it up pretty well... Bill's going with the company line on this one.

It sure would be refreshing to hear a "Nope, I won't be comfortable til we get Joe wrapped up, and the sooner the better" quote out of him though. I don't think a quote like that would hurt him one bit with negotiations or the fans.

I think the Twins will have to give Mauer at least $20+ for 8 to get him.

Jesse said...

Here are the options he had for this question:

1. No Comment
Pros
- No impact on negotiations.

Cons
- Fans dislike the answer.

2. "Very comfortable"
Pros
- Lets agent know he doesn't feel he MUST make a deal which may reduce agent/player leverage.

Cons
- Everyone knows he is lying.
- Agent may feel if Smith does not feel Mauer is a priority then he might as well wait for the 2010 offseason.

3. "Very UNcomfortable"
Pros:
- Its the truth,
- It lets people kmow the importance he is tying to these negotiations.

Cons:
- May give agent/mauer leverage in negotiation.

I think of the 3 answers possible the lie he told was the least useful one. The one pro for it is it may result in a smaller contract but I don't think Joe or his agent is going to settle for less just because Smith threw a bogus line out to the media. In short, tell the truth or don't say anything at all.

Jeff P said...

I can almost guarantee the Twins will sign Mauer through the off season. Being a St. Paul native and always dreaming of playing for the Twins is something he loves and it isn't all about the money for him. He is someone who loves the game for what it is and be prepared to see the Twins make a new record contract offer!

Anonymous said...

...and that move worked out really well for Santana...

VUONG said...

賃貸伊丹市
チラシデザイン
お見合いパーティー
M&A
エステ
マンション大規模修繕
ゴルフ 合コン
インターネットFAX
結婚相談所 東京
au レンタル
リサイクル
ビジネス英会話
ビーズ キット
アセチルグルコサミン
目の疲れ 解消
飲む プラセンタ
口臭対策
世田谷区 矯正歯科
便秘 解消
血糖値を下げる
els
ゴミ袋
黄体機能不全 漢方
自由が丘 不動産
港区 マンション
漢方 不妊
東横 賃貸
センター南 賃貸
大田区 新築一戸建て
経営再建

VUONG said...

結婚 相談
ウェディングドレス
募金
インプラント
カラコン
ボイストレーニング
債務整理
民事再生
自己破産
過払い金
任意整理
リサイクルショップ
オフィス家具
店舗デザイン
債務整理
過払い
新宿 マッサージ
タイ古式マッサージ
広島 不動産
婚活
お見合いパーティー
マカ
格安航空券 国内
バイク便
税理士 東京
青梅市 不動産
LAN工事
港区 賃貸
トートバッグ
激安賃貸
リコメンド
介護 募集

be said...

酒店經紀,
酒店工作,
酒店上班,
酒店打工,
禮服酒店,
禮服公關,
酒店領檯,
華麗幻想,
夢世界,
酒店經紀,
酒店工作,
酒店上班,
酒店打工,
禮服酒店,
禮服公關,
酒店領檯,
華麗幻想,
夢世界,
酒店經紀,
酒店工作,
酒店上班,
酒店打工,
禮服酒店,
禮服公關,
酒店領檯,
華麗幻想,
夢世界,

ちゃく said...

新着ん。は大阪 デリヘル、大阪 ホテヘルなどのリアルタイム情報を掲載しています。

大阪 デリヘルをご利用したいとお考えの方、大阪 デリヘルに興味をお持ちの方は是非こちらのサイトをご覧下さい。

大阪 デリヘル、大阪 風俗。キャバクラ、ホスト等の高収入求人情報に興味のある方は大阪 高収入求人ワーカープラスへ!



中古コピー機専門店アットコピーは、中古コピー機を「あっと」驚く価格。「あっと」いう間に全国配送致します!中古コピー機ならアットコピーへ!



日本語ラップ好きによるBLOG。メディアで知ることの出来ないアーティストも多数紹介しています!

大手流通では置いていない日本語ラップ 通販はこちら。



漫画好きによる漫画 おすすめ マンガのBLOGです。歴史的名作からB級作品まで、様々な漫画を紹介します!



誰が何と言おうとプロレスは最高です!プロレスLOVEな男によるBLOGです。



崇高なる音楽ヘビーメタルを愛する人間によるBLOGです。



日本人の精神を見失った人達へのメッセージ。愛国心を取り戻しましょう!



名作「北斗の拳」から人生を学びましょう。

夜のお仕事高収入求人Mnavi・エムナビ,大阪・神戸・京都・滋賀・奈良・和歌山の高収入バイト情報。エムナビは業種やエリアで絞り込んで検索が行えます。

radella said...

jimmy black shoes
jimmy choo sandals
jimmy choo high
jimmy choo pumps
jimmy choo wedding shoes
buty jimmy choo
jimmy choo skor
jimmy choo booties
shopping jimmy choo
my jimmy choos
jimmy choos heels
DISCOUNT JIMMY CHOO
jimmy choo handbags
JIMMY CHOO
JIMMY CHOO shoes
jimmy choos

大阪 said...

大阪 十三 セクキャバ
Vivid Crew
Bore Up
大阪 十三 デリヘル
努(オンナマタチカラ)

kids bedroom furniture said...

Being new, I am always looking around online for articles to help.