THE MINNESOTA TWINS AND JOE MAUER AGREE TO AN EIGHT-YEAR CONTRACT EXTENSION

By Kelly Thesier / MLB.com

The Twins have locked up their hometown star for the long term.

The club has agreed to terms with catcher Joe Mauer on an eight-year, $184 million contract, covering the 2011-2018 seasons. The deal includes a full no-trade clause.

The contract is the fourth-largest in Major League history behind only the 10-year deals for Alex Rodriguez ($275 million in 2008, $252 million in 2001) and Derek Jeter ($189 million in 2001).

The deal is the culmination of a months-long negotiation between the Twins and the superstar, who is under contract for $12.5 million this season, the final year of a four-year, $33 million pact. Mauer would have been eligible to become a free agent at the end of the upcoming season.

A press conference, which can be seen live on MLB.TV, will be held to announce the deal on Monday night at 6 p.m. CT at the Twins Conference Center at the Lee County Sports Complex.

Both Mauer and the Twins have agreed not to comment further on the deal until the press conference on Monday evening.

Mauer, 26, was named the 2009 American League MVP after batting .365 with 28 home runs and 96 RBIs. He is a three-time All-Star and a two-time Gold Glove winner in six seasons with the Twins. The catcher is also one of only 10 players in Major League history to win three or more batting titles.

A native of St. Paul, Mauer was selected as the No. 1 overall pick in the 2001 First-Year Player Draft. He has a career batting average of .327. Since making his Major League debut in 2004, Mauer ranks third among all Major League players in batting behind Ichiro Suzuki of the Mariners (.335) and Albert Pujols of the Cardinals (.334).

Kelly Thesier is a reporter for MLB.com. This story was not subject to the approval of Major League Baseball or its clubs.