Mauer would be paid an average of $23 million per season and receive a full no-trade clause as a part of the 2011-2018 contract, the Twins said on their website (minnesota.twins.mlb.com).The team have scheduled a news conference for Monday to discuss the deal.Considered the best catcher in baseball.

The 26-year-old is coming off his most productive season in which he won the American League Most Valuable Player award, hitting 28 home runs, 96 runs batted in and with a .365 average.Mauer was eligible to become a free agent following the 2010 season and there was concerns that the native of Minnesota would leave the team.