Sure - Mauer's outstanding, and he provides offense at a usually weak-hitting position - but Justin Morneau is the complete package. On-base percentage, average, home runs, RBI, and gold glove caliber fielding. The Yankees held him hitless in games 1 and 2 of their recent series, and not surprisingly, they won both games. In game 3, they couldn't stop him, and the Twins prevailed. As Morneau goes, so goes the Twins.
Which brings me to the point of this post. Minnesota recently signed Joe Mauer to an 8-year, 184 million dollar extension, which kicks in in the 2011 season. It had to be done, since Mauer is the hometown boy and face of the franchise, and would have been a free agent at season's end.
But to me, Justin Morneau is even more important than Mauer. Morneau (who is quietly leading the Major Leagues in hitting) is in year 3 of a 6-year, 80 million dollar deal, which expires after 2013. He's a relative bargain right now, but now that they've locked up Mauer, the small town Twins certainly won't be able to afford Morneau in 2014, when his 14 million dollar salary will shoot past the 20 million a year mark easily.
The window is wide open for the Twins to win now. Mauer and Moureau are in their primes, they've got a nice supporting cast this year (for a change), and they've got a sparkling new ballpark to boot. What they don't have is the power pitching to beat the likes of the Yankees, Angels, Rays or Red Sox in the playoffs. Before the trading deadline, look for the Twins to go after one of the top pitchers available. If they're able to land an ace such as Cliff Lee or Roy Oswalt, they will be very tough to beat come October.
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