Joe Mauer is a trailblazer as a catcher, achieving things a player at the toughest position on the field hasn’t done in generations.

He became only the second AL catcher in 33 years to win the AL Most Valuable Player. The others were Ivan Rodriguez (1996) and Elston Howard (1965). The last NL catcher to win an MVP was Johnny Bench in 1972.

The other MVP catchers: Mickey Cochrane (1934), Gabby Hartnett (1935), Ernie Lombardi (1938), Roy Campanella (1951, 1953, 1955) and Yogi Berra (1951, 1954, 1955). Bench also won in 1970.

All but Howard and Rodriguez are in the Hall of Fame, and Rodriguez is a shoo-in after his retirement.

Mauer, 26, set a major-league record for highest batting average by a catcher (.365) and won his third batting title. He was the first repeat batting champion since Nomar Garciaparra in 1999-2000. And doing it as a catcher, wearing the “tools of ignorance,” Mauer certainly earned the award for the AL Central champion Twins.

“I always said I wanted to be the best at what I could do. I feel like I can improve. When things are said and done, I always want to be remembered as a great teammate and a great player,” Mauer said, according to MLB.com. “Hopefully I can play for a lot longer. With the batting titles, that is something that never really crossed my mind until it happened. It’s hard for me to think about that.”

AL MVP Mauer is in special company originally appeared on About.com Baseball on Monday, November 23rd, 2009 at 23:47:42.

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When the Boston Red Sox won the World Series in 2004 and 2007, it didn’t go over well in New York. They spent money on free agents with abandon in the offseasons. And when the Yankees win the World Series, as they did earlier this month, it obviously doesn’t go over well in Boston.

And, as you’d expect, this is a big offseason for Boston.

The Red Sox might not necessarily spend more money in free agency, but they know they need to patch up some weak spots.

Jason Bay is a free agent, and there’s a good chance he’ll be back in Boston. But there’s also a chance that the Red Sox will also make a big play for Matt Holliday, and will pit them against each other for the right to play in front of the Green Monster in 2010 and beyond. That’s what Buster Olney reports in his must-read ESPN.com blog.

Olney has some other rumors in his blog as well. The Red Sox really want better starting pitching, and while the free agent ranks don’t have the big-splash starters this offseason, there’s a potential trade bait in Toronto. The Blue Jays are slashing salary and can’t afford Roy Halladay. Would they trade him within their division? Maybe, and especially if the price is right. It will cost Clay Buchholz (who always seems to be on the trading block) and other prospects, reports the New York Daily News.

The Detroit Tigers are in a dealing mode and must cut payroll. Would they part with Miguel Cabrera? That’s an awfully crowded infield already in Boston, but the Boston Herald is stirring up those talks.

And you can bet that Yankees GM Brian Cashman has his speed dial working as well, trying to throw a wrench in the works. The Yankees and Red Sox don’t face off until the opener next April 5, but the games never really end.

Red Sox preparing a response originally appeared on About.com Baseball on Wednesday, November 25th, 2009 at 22:53:47.

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