CASPER
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MINNEAPOLIS – Joe Mauer is staying home.
The AL MVP agreed to a $184 million, eight-year contract extension with Minnesota on Sunday that includes a full no-trade clause, a massive deal that shows the Twins are no longer spending like a small-market club.
The deal covers the 2011-18 seasons and is the fourth largest — both in total value and average salary — in major league history. Mauer will make $12.5 million this year in the final season of a $33 million, four-year deal and will earn $23 million in each of the following eight seasons under the extension.
The team said on Sunday evening that neither Mauer nor team officials would comment until a news conference scheduled for 7 p.m. EDT on Monday at the team's spring training facility in Fort Myers, Fla.
With the announcement, the entire state of Minnesota can take a deep breath and relax.
"184 million for Mauer! Wow," Twins center fielder Denard Span tweeted on Sunday night. "I'm glad it got done so we can all concentrate on winning now."
The 26-year-old Mauer, who has won three AL batting titles and is considered one of the best defensive catchers in the game, was entering the final year of his current contract.
Even though both he and the Twins insisted all along that he would be staying in Minnesota, Twins fans were growing more nervous by the day as negotiations dragged on.
The AL MVP agreed to a $184 million, eight-year contract extension with Minnesota on Sunday that includes a full no-trade clause, a massive deal that shows the Twins are no longer spending like a small-market club.
The deal covers the 2011-18 seasons and is the fourth largest — both in total value and average salary — in major league history. Mauer will make $12.5 million this year in the final season of a $33 million, four-year deal and will earn $23 million in each of the following eight seasons under the extension.
The team said on Sunday evening that neither Mauer nor team officials would comment until a news conference scheduled for 7 p.m. EDT on Monday at the team's spring training facility in Fort Myers, Fla.
With the announcement, the entire state of Minnesota can take a deep breath and relax.
"184 million for Mauer! Wow," Twins center fielder Denard Span tweeted on Sunday night. "I'm glad it got done so we can all concentrate on winning now."
The 26-year-old Mauer, who has won three AL batting titles and is considered one of the best defensive catchers in the game, was entering the final year of his current contract.
Even though both he and the Twins insisted all along that he would be staying in Minnesota, Twins fans were growing more nervous by the day as negotiations dragged on.
