If you ran a current MLB team, who would you keep?

[JMB05]

well, not exactly.. but it's long and it's not Yankee money..

Funny, an 8-year, $184 million contract is exactly what I think of when I think Yankee money.

Catchers that hit like Mauer are about the most rare thing in baseball, (well, were when he signed.. now the whole santana, posey thing has altered that a bit.) add to that that Mauer is about as good defensively as it gets.

I bet in free agency he gets 4 years for $100M. and then probably signs a bigger contract after that. As long as he keeps growing as a player, that will look like a serious bargain in 8 years. Free Agency money goes up every year, the most valuable thing about this contract is the 8 years. Mauer is locked up for life for a relitively reasonable price.

This guy is just getting plain silly. You can't be serious?

[wrveres]

Padres:

I want to say Adrian Gonzalez, but only if part of the deal is ensuring he stays in San Diego via a new contract.

Otherwise, Mat Latos.

Gonzo is the only player in Petco History who had proven he can hit for consistent power (yes I know he has significant home/away splits). He still has the best stats of any hitter in Petco history.

Latos is a beast, helped by a pitcher friendly park, and should put up some crazy numbers in the next few years, but I keep hitting over pitching.

i like Latos as much as the next guy, but I am taking Adrian. Baseball history is littered with with number 1's that fell flat, or met the knife, and never rebounded.

A player like Adrian though is rare. He really is underrated. His glove is amazing, not just his bat. There is no stat that shows just how many runs he saves a week with his glove. If you want to know why the Padres have one of the best defenses in the game, it's Adrian. He is a fricking vacuum cleaner on the corner. If Adrian played east of the Mississippi, he'd get the respect he deserves. They'd have to do a top ten of just his glove work alone each week.

Players like Tex, Pujols and yes Adrian Gonzalez are franchise cornerstones.

He makes Latos a better pitcher.

He stays.

[Padsin05]

another Pad fan here, yay we have 3!!!!

I keep Adrian hands down, if and only if we arent looking at contracts. But facts are facts and the Pads wont have Adrian after 2011, and the only other player in the organization that is worth a damm is Latos....Therefore I gotta keep Latos if we factor contract status

[AussieDodger]

another Pad fan here, yay we have all 3 of them!!!!

FYP

[Grounded Polo]

Clearly David Wright here. His all around game is a safer bet to age better than Reyes.

[jake_twothousandfive]

Yeah for the Twins it's gotta be Mauer, but it isn't because of the contract.

Don't kid yourself lastingsgriller his contract isn't anywhere near as team friendly as Longoria's. Not even close. It looked like theft for the Rays when he signed it back in 2008 and it looks even better now. Compare his salary to his production and it almost looks like he's playing for free.

Paul Cohen should be loved by all Rays fan.

[lastingsgriller]

Funny, an 8-year, $184 million contract is exactly what I think of when I think Yankee money.

Catchers that hit like Mauer are about the most rare thing in baseball, (well, were when he signed.. now the whole santana, posey thing has altered that a bit.) add to that that Mauer is about as good defensively as it gets.

I bet in free agency he gets 4 years for $100M. and then probably signs a bigger contract after that. As long as he keeps growing as a player, that will look like a serious bargain in 8 years. Free Agency money goes up every year, the most valuable thing about this contract is the 8 years. Mauer is locked up for life for a relitively reasonable price.

This guy is just getting plain silly. You can't be serious?

meh, I'm probably being a bit of a homer here and excited that the twins finally spent some money.. but you watch what contracts look like in 4 years and decide then whether $23M/year is a bargain or not..

[GiantsFan14]

Buster Posey