Loyalty is rare in professional sports, especially in modern times.
It’s difficult to blame athletes for leaving their original teams when they receive a more favorable contract elsewhere.
Also, it’s not like professional sports teams are always loyal to their players, as exemplified by the Dallas Mavericks’ recent shocking mid-season trade of Luka Doncic, who is regarded by many as a top-5 player in the NBA, to the Los Angeles Lakers.
Guerrero signs 14-year, $500 million contract extension with Toronto Blue Jays
Given the trend of disloyalty between athletes and their respective organizations, Guerrero's monster extension with his original team likely warms the hearts of those who were enraged when Kevin Durant left the Oklahoma City Thunder for the Golden State Warriors in 2016, or when the Chicago Cubs traded away Kris Bryant, Anthony Rizzo, and Javier Baez in 2021.
Although the amount of money was significantly less than what the Blue Jays' All-Star first baseman reigned in, Mauer’s eight-year, $184 million contract extension in 2010 had the same element of loyalty as Guerrero's.
Guerrero's extension reminiscent of Mauer's
Like Guerrero, Mauer chose to stay with his original team rather than signing a more lucrative deal elsewhere.
Both Guerrero and Mauer joined their long-term organizations as teenagers. Another parallel between the two is that both were 26 when they signed their extensions.
Was Mauer’s contract worth it for the Twins?
At one point, Mauer’s name was a controversial topic for some Twins fans, with many thinking the extension turned out poorly given the former catcher's string of injuries, loss of power, and the move from catcher to first base.
Technically, those factors made him fall short of the contract’s expectations, garnering $176.2 million of value from 2010 to the end of his career, according to FanGraphs. However, a combination of providing value far above what he was getting paid before the extension and increasing his status as a Minnesota sports icon says otherwise.
Mauer’s contract was worth it for the Twins
Think of it from a business perspective. The amount of Mauer jerseys worn by people in Minnesota during the All-Star catcher's playing career, and even today, proves the hometown hero’s impact went beyond the ballpark. Because of Mauer’s stellar career, which includes an American League Most Valuable Player award, the Twins undoubtedly made more money than they would have without the Hall of Famer through merchandise and ticket sales.
Also, why not reward him for what he did from 2004-09?
While making $11,025,000, Mauer accumulated $161.4 million of value before signing his remunerative extension.
To summarize, Mauer was worth $337.6 million throughout his career, yet earned $195,025,000. It’s difficult to imagine the Pohlads regret making him a longtime Twin.