Twins taking joe Mauer over Mark Prior

[chrispw1]

I was thinking back to the 2001 draft and the Twins taking Joe Mauer instead of Mark prior and wasn't it mostly because of financial reasons? I reacll people saying it was unfair and all yet it's turned out to be one of the best decisions since Prior will probably never pitch again and Mauer is a star plus that made Persynski exoendable and dealt him for Joe Nathan and while Francisco Liriano has struggled to start this year he's shown flashes of potential to be really good. Kind of reminds me of the Chipper-Van Poppel dreaft in 1990.

[Honus Wagner Rules]

I seem to remember that money was the key issue. However, Mauer was a highly tauted prospect in his own right. I seem to remember Mauer was rated the second best prospect after Prior. Plus Mauer was a local high school star athlete as well.

[High Mileage]

Being from St. Paul, Minnesota probably helped them decide to take Mauer too...

[Bennybosox]

As I recall the financials were the key factor in the deal, as Prior STILL holds the record for the largest bonus in the history of the draft (although Strausberg will obliteriate that when he signs). I recall the Twins being in a unique--and favorable--position because they undoubtedly would have taken a lot of heat for not drafting Prior had Mauer not been a local product.

Prior was fast tracked to the Majors and was far and away the best young pitcher in the game after his first full season, while Mauer exceeded in his own right, making it to the Majors in about half the time it takes the average high school draftee taken at the top of the draft. Mauer also was strongly commited to play QB for Florida State, and had the Twins not taken him there were indications he may slip in the draft.