Major League Baseball

Twins, Mauer reach long-term deal

Published Mar. 21, 2010 1:00 a.m. ET

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Ken Rosenthal

The Minnesota Twins and catcher Joe Mauer have agreed to an eight-year, $184 million contract extension.

The deal, which includes a full no-trade clause, will be made official at a 7 p.m. (ET) press conference on Monday.

Mauer, 26, was the AL MVP last season. He batted .365 with 30 doubles, one triple, 28 home runs and 96 RBI in 138 games. He was named to his third career All-Star team, won his second career Gold Glove Award and his third career “Silver Slugger” Award.

With his 2009 batting title, Mauer became one of 10 players in major-League history to win three or more batting titles, and the first to win back-to-back batting titles since Nomar Garciaparra in 1999 and 2000. He also became the 12th player (first catcher) in American League history (first since George Brett in 1980) to lead the league in batting average, on-base percentage (.444) and slugging percentage (.587). Of the 12 American League players to accomplish those numbers, 10 are in the Hall of Fame.

Ron Shapiro, the agent for the Twins catcher, returned to the team's training site in Ft. Myers, Fla., on Sunday, a strong indication that Mauer's contract talks were entering the final stages.

Mauer, 26, was to be eligible for free agency at the end of the season, but the two sides had been discussing an extension of at least seven years and $20 million per season.

Shapiro was in Ft. Myers to meet with Twins officials earlier this month, raising the possibility that a deal was near.

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