An unlikely team opened up their wallets and signed their All Star potential Free Agent to a long term deal.
And the deal is called great for baseball.
No doubt on the open market this All Star would sniff New York or Boston's offers.
And a home grown star, someone who is one of the good guys in the sport, would have been lost.
Instead competitive balance was restored... and a fan base who saw glory under the dome the 1980s and 1990s including a pair of World Series titles FINALLY got a sense of continuity with their favorite star.
Who am I talking about?
Joe Mauer?
Vernon Wells?
Wells signed the mongo 7 year $126 million contract after the 2006 season. The Blue Jays, who finished second that season, looked like they were getting ready to make a move on the AL East.
They did alright... they moved down.
And Vernon Wells has slumped and is a shell of his former self.
And you have to wonder if they didn't have such a backloaded albatross of a contract with Wells if the Blue Jays would have been able to keep Roy Halladay.
The only way to move Wells would be to take on another albatross, as I suggested earlier this year.
Remember how A-Rod's contract prevented the Rangers from getting better?
Remember how Ken Griffey Jr's contracted prevented the Reds from getting better?
What I am saying is... I hope Joe Mauer stays healthy and doesn't slump.
Catchers wear down faster than center fielders
I'd hate for this contract to be a burden 5, 6, 7 or 8 years from now
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