Report: Twins' Mauer placed on waivers
Minnesota Twins icon Joe Mauer was placed on waivers Tuesday, a major-league source told FoxSports.
Mauer, 29, has about $142.5 million left on his contract, including $138 million from 2013 to 2018. Despite the Twins having compiled the worst record in the American League, Mauer has returned to his previous All-Star form. He has played in 120 of the team's 129 games, and has posted .403 on-base percentage and a .828 OPS.
Mauer's contract includes a full no-trade clause, meaning he can block a deal to any team. He has lived and played baseball for his Minnesota for entire life, and was the first overall pick by the Twins in 2001.
In addition to Mauer, a separate report earlier in the week said that first baseman Justin Morneau had been claimed on waivers by the Los Angeles Dodgers, but pulled back when the teams couldn't agree on deal. The Dodgers then completed a blockbuster with the Boston Red Sox that brought Adrian Gonzalez, Carl Crawford, Josh Beckett and Nick Punto to Los Angeles.
