Luuux

After posting a .365 average and winning the 2009 American League MVP award, Joe Mauer has gotten his long awaited contract extension. The Minnesota Twins and the All-Star catcher agreed to a 8-year contract worth $184 million dollars.

The news comes after months of negotiations, that at times made fans and experts wonder if Mauer would remain a Twin after next year. The Yankees and Red Sox were said to be in the hunt for the catcher but people in the Twins organization never doubted a deal would get done. Mauer himself stated how important the Twins ball club is to him.

"I'm getting a little emotional about this, its finally beginning to set in.....I love putting on a Minnesota Twins uniform, and I'm thrilled to able to do this for the rest of my career."

This move by the Twins was a necessity. No matter how much Mauer costs, the Twins need him and cannot be a competitor without him. He is a leader on the field and in the clubhouse and puts up astronomical batting statistics consistently each season. This new deal shows the Twins commitment to winning and they will be a dominating force in the AL Central this season.