Mauer Signs, V-Mart Next?

After weeks of contract negotiations and rumors, Joe Mauer finally signed a long-term deal with the Minnesota Twins. Mauer and the Twins agreed on an 8-year, $184 million extension that would keep him in a Twins uniform through the 2018 season. The contract also includes a full no-trade clause, giving Mauer complete control of his future. With the Sox looking towards the future, is it time they lock-up Victor Martinez long-term?

The answer is a resounding yes. When looking around the league, the one position with a glaring lack of depth is catcher, especially a catcher that has the ability to hit for a high average and be a power threat. V-Mart is a fairly strong defensive catcher with the ability to hit .300 with 25 HR’s, which will make him a highly sought after commodity if he becomes a free agent this off-season, driving his price through the roof.

If the Sox were to act quickly and reach a deal this season before October/November, V-Mart wouldn’t have to even test the free agent market and get the itch to pursue more $$$. As of now, V-Mart has been telling the media he wants to stay in Boston long-term and is open to negotiate with the Red Sox whenever management is ready. With the Sox catching prospects still a few years away from contributing at the major league level, spending the money on V-Mart is a no-brainer.

The main concern with signing V-Mart to an extension is his ability to stay behind the plate for several years down the road. Is it just me, or does anyone else not see the problem here? V-Mart can play 1st base or DH if catching becomes an issue for him over the next several years and considering David Ortiz’s age, they may be searching for a DH anyway. His offensive numbers are impressive enough to be a DH in a few years, allowing prospect Mark Wagner to emerge on the scene.

Ultimately, I would be shocked if Theo and the gang didn’t sign V-Mart before next off-season. They know the value of a youngish offensive catcher and based on last year’s half-season numbers, they know that V-Mart can be extremely successful hitting in Fenway Park. With Theo’s reoccurring dream of Joe Mauer in a Red Sox uniform smashed, V-Mart is without a doubt the best option available for a long-term solution.