Mauer: Contract talks haven't started

The team would not confirm a report that it has entered contract negotiations with its All-Star catcher.

By JOE CHRISTENSEN, Star Tribune

Last update: November 12, 2009 - 9:28 AM

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CHICAGO - Jerry Bell was Twins president in November 1989 when the team gave Kirby Puckett a three-year, $9 million contract, making Puckett baseball's first $3 million-per-year player.

Puckett's agent was Ron Shapiro, who now represents Twins catcher Joe Mauer, as the team considers another major contract.

"I'm confident that we'll have a good negotiation because I know we're dealing with good people," said Bell, now president of Twins Sports Inc. "I can't say I'm confident about the outcome because I don't know."

Bell and General Manager Bill Smith would not confirm a Pioneer Press report that the team has begun talking with Mauer about a new deal. But Bell said: "I think when sides want to get something done, usually they do, and I think that's the case here. But you don't know. It's not done until it's done."

Mauer, 26, received his second Gold Glove Award on Tuesday and today, he will win his third Silver Slugger Award as the best-hitting player at his position. Mauer has one more year remaining on the four-year, $33 million deal he signed in February 2007.

"I've been thinking about things like that, but to tell you the truth, we haven't really started [negotiating with the Twins]," Mauer said late Wednesday in a phone interview.

"It's the same philosophy that I've had: It's going to happen when it happens. So I'm just trying to let things happen, not try to make it happen, and it'll all work out when it needs to."

While Smith was wrapping up baseball's annual GM Meetings in Chicago, Mauer was in the Windy City as a special guest at a Gatorade conference.

The soft-drink company invited its employees together to introduce some new products, and Mauer agreed to speak in a Q&A format. Today's guest of honor will be tennis star Serena Williams, and later in the week, it will be Olympic track sensation Usain Bolt.

"Some pretty good athletes and then me," Mauer said.

With all the awards coming in, along with the marketing opportunities, Mauer has had his hands full since the season ended.

"I've been so busy," he said. "One of my best buddies [Tony Leseman] is getting married this weekend. With all the things that are going on with him, it's kind of been a good distraction."

Pavano's agent says meeting is excellent

Carl Pavano's agent, Tom O'Connell, confirmed that he met with the Twins on Wednesday night in Chicago and called it an excellent first meeting.

Pavano, 33, went 5-4 with a 4.64 ERA in 12 starts with the Twins after arriving in a trade from Cleveland. He'll likely test the free agent market, but the Twins expressed their desire to bring him back.

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