Joe Mauer’s agreement with the Twins may mean big things for Red Sox catcher Victor Martinez. Following the announcement, V-Mart expressed happiness for his fellow catcher's eight-year, $184 million contract.
"Man, it’s great," Martinez told WEEI.com. "He deserved every penny he got. I think he’s going to be fine for the next eight years. He really deserved every penny. Obviously, he’s a great guy, a great player."
Most significantly, the Twins signing Mauer to an extension means Martinez will be the top free-agent catcher on the market if the Red Sox do not extend his contract following this season.
Mauer’s big-time contract — the fourth-largest in baseball history — for the small-market club may give Martinez hope for securing a similar deal, especially since the Red Sox have a significantly larger payroll. The Sox catcher, however, isn’t sure what the Mauer deal may mean for his future.
"Can’t really answer that question," Martinez said when asked about his potential financial windfall as a result of Mauer's terms. "I don’t really know. We’ll see what happens now. I can’t control anything else. Just keep myself healthy and on the field."
Martinez has expressed a desire to remain in Boston and is interested in finalizing the deal before the season is over. Martinez also may be relieved that Mauer is not an option for the Red Sox.
Or maybe — self-interest aside — Martinez is just happy for his former AL Central Division rival.
"I got to play against him a lot when I was in Cleveland," Martinez said. "It’s fun. The way he goes about his business, plays the game. It’s always fun to watch a guy like him play."
