| 19 April 2011
Joe Mauer is the best catcher in baseball.
As far as bold statements go, this one isn't exactly earth-shattering. An argument could be made for Buster Posey, and Brian McCann is no slouch, but Mauer provides a great bat at a position where quality offense is hard to find.
In fact, a large portion of Mauer's value lies in the fact that he puts on the catching armor at least 135 times every summer. Ideally, Mauer would be able to catch for the rest of his career and the Twins could put his consistent bat – one of the best in the league – in their lineup every day.
But the 6-foot-5-inch, 235-lb former quarterback is simply too big to squat behind home plate for the next eight years, and will likely need to move to another spot. Judging from his inability to stay healthy for an entire summer, the transition needs to happen sooner rather than later.
Perhaps as soon as right now.
Though just 28 years old, Mauer has accumulated a résumé of injuries that would make any retiree blush. A torn left meniscus caused him to miss much of the 2004 season, a stress reaction in his left leg cost him a month in 2007, and inflammation in a pelvic joint caused him to start 2009 on the disabled list.
Mauer has played in 845 games in his career with the Twins. He's spent 321 days on the disabled list.
Physically, Mauer should be entering the prime of his career. As he celebrates his 28th birthday today, the catcher will be dealing with a mystery ailment. “Bilateral leg weakness” -- the term used by the team with regard his trip to the disabled list -- is a symptom, not a diagnosis.
This isn't the NFL; a player of Mauer's age isn't supposed to have a terrifying rap sheet of injuries and two surgeries to his name.
While it's true that Mauer is most valuable when behind the plate, he can't provide his full value when on the disabled list each year. Mauer's defense isn't what it used to be, and his bat is clearly his best asset. It's time to start thinking about moving the face of the franchise to a position better suited for a player of his size.
First base is out, and Mauer is probably too tall and not quick enough for third base. No, if Mauer is to transition from behind the plate, it will be to the outfield.
This may force Minnesota to change their plans a bit, but adding an athletic player with a strong arm to a corner outfield position is rarely a bad idea. Ben Revere or Delmon Young may become trade bait, but that's not necessarily a bad thing.
A position change is never an easy thing to do, and it will likely take Mauer at least a full season to make the transition. But it's a process that needs to start now.
The first step? Finding a suitable replacement. Minnesota is surprisingly weak at the catcher position if Mauer is moved from the position. Drew Butera and Steve Holms aren't going to cut it, and the Twins need to find someone who can provide (at least) league-average plate appearances from behind the plate. Until this mystery replacement catcher is found, Mauer will need to spend just about all of his playing time with a catching mask on his face.
Should the Twins draft a catcher and groom him for three or four years before transitioning Mauer out of the catching position, or should Minnesota trade for a catcher as soon as possible and allow Mauer to start getting acclimated to the outfield right away? I don't know.
Executing this transition phase will be a lengthy process for the Twins, but it can start this evening in Baltimore. Allow Mauer to shag fly balls during batting practice a couple of times per week, and show him some “outfield 101” training videos. (Just don't let Delmon Young sit in.)
It's painful to admit, but Mauer can't be a catcher forever. The number of tall, successful catchers in baseball's history are far and few between. Betting that Mauer can stay healthy and productive while living in a squat isn't a safe bet, and it's time to start thinking about moving him to the outfield.
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