Peter Gammons: Red Sox Offered to Take All of Joe Mauer's Contract

On the MLB Network's Hot Stove program, Peter Gammons spent a few minutes running through a few talking points. The most interesting point to Twins fans was something that Gammons dropped but Harold Reynolds and Matt Vasgersian glossed right over it: the Red Sox called the Twins and offered to take on Joe Mauer's entire salary.

Obviously Terry Ryan and the Twins have no interest in moving Mauer, which is a decision I fully support. But it's interesting that Boston would be willing to go so far in their pursuit of one of the best catchers in the game. Partially it's surprising that any team in baseball would be willing to do that, but it's even more interesting that the team offering to do so is the Red Sox. Here's why:

• Last summer the Red Sox managed to shed a number of albatross contracts: Adrian Gonzalez, Josh Beckett, Carl Crawford in trades; Dice-K finally came off the books as a free agent.
• They promptly give a 31 and 32 year old a three-year, $39 million dollar contract. Each.
• They were desperate to change clubhouse culture, yet brought in Shane Victorino, who isn't exactly known as a good clubhouse guy.