Joe Mauer Deal Still Not Done, Which Leads to Trade Talk and Inevitably, the Need for a Salary Cap

The Twins reportedly are offering the most popular player in franchise history, Joe Mauer, about $20 million a year. His agent may or may not be holding out for $25 million a year, which would put Mauer only below Alex Rodriguez ($33 million last year) and ahead of just about everyone else in baseball. Since Mauer is one of the three best hitters in the sport and he’s only 26 and he’s won three batting titles, why shouldn’t he hold out for his number? Is it worth it?If they give Mauer $25 million a year, or a figure in that neighborhood, they run the risk of having “one player on their roster consuming 20 to 25 percent of their payroll, a formula that rarely works in baseball.” If Minnesota doesn’t get a deal done before the season begins – less than four weeks – the Twins will probably have to begin entertaining trade offers. Bad for business? Not necessarily the Twins. Baseball overall? Yup. We heard Tim Kurkjian on ESPN this morning...