Christensen: MVP would be Mauer’s coronation

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Orioles broadcaster Buck Martinez, a former big league catcher, said: “Joe might be the best player in the game. We had a debate on the radio the other day between Mauer and Pujols. And we love Pujols, but to have a catcher do what [Mauer] does, it gives you so many more options.”

That logic also speaks to Derek Jeter’s value for the Yankees. Jeter might not have Teixeira’s power numbers, but power production is expected from a first baseman. Jeter’s .871 OPS (on base-plus-slugging percentage) at shortstop gives the Yankees a huge boost.

Jeter and Teixeira might be Mauer’s two biggest MVP challengers, and the teammates could split each other’s votes. Jeter was runner-up in the MVP voting to Morneau in 2006, when Morneau had 130 RBI, overshadowing Jeter’s .900 OPS.

Mauer missed all of April, recovering from a lower-back injury. He returned May 1, hitting a home run in his first at-bat, and wound up playing in 138 of the team’s final 141 games. Though he started 28 games at designated hitter, he caught 939 innings, ranking fifth in the AL, according to www.hardballtimes.com.