UPDATE: Buster Olney is saying the 10-year deal report is untrue, and Jon Heyman believes that the deal will be for seven or eight years instead, and worth ~$180 million. -- Zach

Early reports are in that the Twins have signed All-World catcher Joe Mauer to a 10-year deal. The money is as of yet unknown, though presumably it's a fairly hefty sum. The first thought that springs to mind upon hearing '10-year deal' is, of course, Alex Rodriguez's blockbuster 10-year/$252MM deal signed in 2001 – and then the 10-year deal he just signed in 2008 that will pay him $275MM through 2017. Now, Rodriguez has actually earned the money that has been thrown in his direction, as he's been one of the most productive – and, almost as importantly, durable – players in the game during his career. But despite that precedent – inasmuch as one player represents a useful precedent – I don't think I like this deal.

Look, clearly Mauer is one of the best hitters in the game – he's in the discussion with Albert Pujols and...well, it's a short list. You could make arguments for Rodriguez or Chase Utley, I suppose, but the point is, Mauer is in like a new stratosphere of 'elite.' And his numbers last season - .365/.444/.587, all league-best – and three batting titles, while remarkable on their own, become something special when you remember he's a catcher. He could very well be the best offensive catcher to ever strap on the tools of ignorance, and it's not like he's a slouch with the glove, either. Basically, he's got the kind of talent that makes baseball in general more fun.

But here's the thing – 10 years is a lo-o-ng time. He'll be 37 by the time this contract runs out...and catchers don't often stay too terribly productive by that age (though if this offseason was any indication, he'll be able to eke out 1 (or 2!) year deals for a couple years after that contract runs out). Furthermore, he's 6'5'', which serves to increase the already estimable stress that catching places on his legs, and he's already had back problems. What I'm saying is, while he's easily one of – if not the – best players in the game, he doesn't profile like a guy to whom I'd feel comfortable offering a 10-year deal, especially if he's forced into DHing for the last four or five years.

Now, is this a good thing for Twins fans? Of course. They get to keep their star. And it means that we don't have to deal with potential handwringing about the Yankees or Red Sox snapping him up and thereby embodying everything that's wrong with baseball and probably also the free market in general, which is a blessing. I'm just thinking that after 5 or 6 years, that contract is going to start to look like a liability – which is especially problematic for a budget-conscious team like the Twins. While I applaud GM Bill Smith for the short-term benefits he'll reap, and fervently hope that Mauer remains as otherworldly good as he was last year, I'm worried that he's going to regret this deal down the road.

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