Garth Snow Inks Joe Mauer to 10-Year Contract, Wait...Garth Snow Isn't the Twins GM

So, it looks like one big fantasy for the next offseason is dead, already. It looks like next year's free agent class will not include Joe Mauer, as it seems as though he's signed a Rick DiPietro-esque 10 year deal with the Twins, according to WCCO in Minneapolis. It's a preliminary agreement so no numbers have been released, but I doubt there were many people who didn't see this coming. Well, maybe they didn't expect a decade-long agreement, but the intent was there.

Mauer is a Minnesota native and loves the Twins, and there was a good chance he wasn't going to go anywhere anyway, even if he did hit free agency. But this seals it. The Twins were not going to let this kid go, and they were smart to do what they needed to do to keep him in Minnesota. He's one of the best hitters in the game, and is a very good catcher. So let's chalk one up for the "small market" team and raise a glass to Joe Mauer. Congratulations on signing a monster deal. And let's give props to Garth Snow, I mean, Bill Smith on finding a way to get this deal done...