Mauer to be a Twin until (at least) 2018

Perhaps he could have earned more elsewhere.

Regardless of whether or not that's the case, Joe Mauer, a St. Paul native, will be the Minnesota Twins catcher through the 2018 season.

Mauer and the Twins agreed to an eight-year extension that will pay him $184 million and includes a no-trade clause, per ESPN. This would have been the final season of his four-year contract.

According to MLB.com, a press conference will be held at 6 p.m. central time on Monday to officially announce the deal.

Had Mauer tested the free-agency market in the fall, ESPN's Buster Olney believes that he could have commanded in the range of $250 million.

Despite being only 26 years old, Mauer is the American League's reigning MVP, has won three batting titles and two Gold Gloves.

In fantasy baseball, he's the consensus first catcher drafted and is a borderline first-round pick with an average draft position (ADP) of 12.71, according to MockDraftCentral.com.