Highest Paid Players in Major League Baseball: An overview – Part 5
Completing the list of the top five highest paid players in Major League Baseball is Minnesota Twins’ catcher Joe Mauer. With a salary of $23-million, he takes the fifth spot behind Mark Teixeira who gets an annual pay of just over $23-million.
Joe is in his eighth season of Major League Baseball after starting his career in 2004 with the Minnesota Twins. He was drafted as the first pick in the first round of the 2001 MLB Draft and has since been loyal to the Twins. Mauer did not take any time
to get adjusted to the intensity at the professional level and his performance has been exemplary since his debut season.
Mauer got to play only 35 games in 2004 but he took this little opportunity to magnify his importance. Mauer averaged .308 for the season with six home-runs and 18 runs in total. He had 33 hits in 35 games and managed to complete 17 RBIs. Mauer’s slugging
percentage of .570 was brilliant and showed signs of genius in the young lad.
Joe justifiably engraved his authority on the baseball circuit in 2006 when his performance rocketed. In 140 games, Mauer compiled 181 hits and bagged 86 runs aided by 13 home-runs. His batting average for the season was recorded just under .350 (.347) and
his slugging percentage remained above .500 (.507).
Mauer’s forte has been his ability to connect the ball and add runs. He is not a home-run smasher and is more of a technical player who nips the ball for singles and doubles.
His current season has not been as impressive as his career with the bat but he has filled first base for the Twins whenever Carl Pavano pitches. Drew Butera has surfaced as Pavano’s personal catcher and thus starts behind the plate in place of Mauer whenever
Pavano starts at the mound. Mauer’s multiple skills make him more worthy of the highest price tag in the Minnesota bull-pen.
Joe’s performances have been appreciated and have been honoured at the highest level. He has won the Gold Glove award for catcher in three successive years from 2008 – 2010 and is again a strong candidate to win it the fourth time this season.
He won the Silver Slugger award for the first time in 2006 and then won three consecutive Silver Slugger awards from 2008 – 2010. 2009 proved to be the best in terms of silverware when Mauer, in addition to the Gold Glove and Silver Slugger award, also won
the Most Valuable Player award.
Mauer’s career has been illustrious and he has won millions of supporters through his consistency at the plate and behind it. Despite his heroics and the lucrative amount that the Twins spend on him, they have still not gotten the desired results. The team
is struggling in the American League Central Division and is currently placed fourth in the division out of a total of five teams.
The top five highest paid players feature three players from the New York Yankees. Alex Rodriguez, CC Sabathia and Mark Teixeira are names which have made their importance and their position by their performances in MLB.
All five players are deserving players and have a significant impact on how their team performs. Moreover, they attract huge revenues from sale of merchandise and even if they are on the disabled list, the team has no hesitation in paying them. This reputation
does not come easily. It takes a lot of determination and sincere effort to become a true star!
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