MINNEAPOLIS (KMSP) -
The Minnesota Twins placed catcher Joe Mauer on trade waivers Tuesday, FOX Sports' Ken Rosenthal reported, citing a major league source.
Rosenthal said it would be an act of discipline for the Boston Red Sox to pass on Mauer, "a player who once was their Holy Grail," especially after dumping more than $245 million in contracts in a trade with the Los Angeles dodgers last week.
Mauer, a 29-year-old former MVP and regular All-Star, has about $142.5 million remaining on his contract – likely more than Boston is willing to take on.
Trade waivers don't mean a player will be traded, but are typically a way for teams to gauge interest in a player they would consider moving for the right assets.
According to a source, Rosenthal says Mauer sought an opt-out clause in his contract negotiations as protection in case the Twins fell into a losing rut. The Twins declined to include such a clause.
