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Twins Notes: Mauer, Morneau, Valencia

By Mark Polishuk [October 29, 2009 at 7:06pm CST]

MLB.com's Kelly Thesier answered a few e-mails from fans in regard to what Minnesota might have up its sleeve in the offseason, and here are some of the most notable bits of news from the piece...

Thesier said that though talks between the Twins and Joe Mauer about a contract extension haven't yet begun, "don't take Mauer's patience to mean that the catcher isn't interested in signing an extension." Thesier also noted a possible good omen for Minnesota fans --- Mauer's agent, Ron Shapiro, also represented single-franchise stars Kirby Puckett and Cal Ripken Jr.
Justin Morneau should be recovered from minor wrist surgery in four weeks' time, and looks to start rehabbing his injured back by the middle of November.
Top prospect Danny Valencia will need a big performance in spring training to win the third base job, given that the 25-year-old didn't even receive a call-up last September.
Money may be the only thing that prevents Minnesota from re-signing Orlando Cabrera, since the Twins "appreciated" his contribution to their AL Central crown.

Comments

I can't count how many times I've heard how Mauer's agent represented single team players Kirby Puckett and Cal Ripken, Jr.

Posted by: weareoffthemark.wordpress.com | October 29, 2009 at 08:33 PM

Funny -- I was about to type the same thing.

Posted by: ExposCortege | October 29, 2009 at 09:25 PM

I will see it as an absolute atrocity if Mauer is not a career Twin.

Posted by: MetsvilleSlugger | October 29, 2009 at 09:40 PM

Since when was Danny Valencia considered the Twins Top Prospect? I think Aaron Hicks has something to say about that.

Posted by: Zabat | October 30, 2009 at 02:26 AM

"Money may be the only thing that keeps" Minnesota from retaining the services of Orlando Cabrera?
Minnesota's actual feelings..."While we appreciated an athlete exhibiting attention to detail, running the bases aggressively and playing good defense, we feel his personality is way too far out there and we really don't need Rickey Henderson type flying patterns when rounding second base in the ALDS.

Posted by: HeadFirstSlide | October 30, 2009 at 07:53 AM

The story calls Valencia a "Top Prospect" not the top prospect. Also he was not called up most likely because he was not on the teams 40 man roster and moving someone off of the roster would have been short sighted for a Sept callup.

Posted by: justdeal | October 30, 2009 at 09:28 AM

HeadFirstSlide... are you thinking of Carlos Gomez? Or Nick Punto? Cabrera didn't make any baserunning mistakes in the ALDS.

Posted by: SCball | October 30, 2009 at 09:28 AM

"The story calls Valencia a "Top Prospect" not the top prospect. Also he was not called up most likely because he was not on the teams 40 man roster and moving someone off of the roster would have been short sighted for a Sept callup."

My guess is that it has more to do with his walk rate in 269 AAA plate appearances (2.9%) than any sort of roster management issues.

If you're a third baseman with relatively unimpressive power, you simply have to walk more than 3% of the time in AAA if you want to even be looked at for MLB playing time.

He needs to get back to the approach that he had in AA (12.4% walk rate) if he wants to be their third baseman any time soon.

Posted by: scribbletone | October 30, 2009 at 09:46 AM

SCBall..I believe he was referring to Cabrera's over-animated rounding of the bases after the dinger in game 163. Decent late season performance, but overly jittery clubhouse presence.

Posted by: MNdsmalley | October 30, 2009 at 02:45 PM

I think the "only thing that keeps the Twins from signing Cabrera" would be his declining fielding ability.

I really hope they can swing a trade for someone like J.J. Hardy or Stephen Drew.
Maybe the Rays would trade us Jason Bartlett and Matt Garza for Delmon Young and Brendon Harris, wait...

Posted by: NickL1538 | October 30, 2009 at 10:35 PM

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Twins Notes: Mauer, Morneau, Valencia

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