I was just watching the Sox defeat Minnesota. In the 9th inning of that game, Joe Mauer hit a two run pinch hit home fun. His stats over 22 games are insane.
- Avg: .438
- HR: 10
- RBI: 29
- OBP: .525
As he’s rounding the bases after his homer, Dave Roberts comments “Is he the best player in baseball right now or what?” With stats like what I listed above, it’s hard not to agree.
Let’s assume for a moment that the Twins will not be able to resign him when he becomes a free agent after next season. The question isn’t “Will the Red Sox attempt to sign Joe Mauer?” That’s pretty much a given unless there’s another young franchise catcher about to fall in their lap. Furthermore, even if the Sox pick up Varitek’s option for next year, his two year deal will have run it’s course.
It’s pretty much a lock that the Sox will be in the Mauer signing sweepstakes when it does happen.
No, the question is “should the Red Sox sign Joe Mauer"?”
There’s a big problem to entering the Mauer sweepstakes. The Yankees will be in it, too. As Jorge Posada will most likely be ready to sail off into the sunset by then. If the Texiera negotiations have taught us anything, it is that unless you are willing to pay WAY over the market rate for a player, the Yankees can take the strategy of “we’ll match and up any offer you get, just let us know what the number is.”
Is that a game the Red Sox really want to play? Can they play that game?
It’s not that I don’t want Joe Mauer to play for the Red Sox, I just don’t see it happening. If I were the Red Sox, I would continue to look elsewhere for the catcher of the post-Varitek era.
