Font ResizeMinnesota Twins catcher Joe Mauer was named the American League's Most Valuable Player on Monday by the Baseball Writers Association of America.
He received 27 of 28 first-place votes and became the second Twins player in four seasons to win the award.
"To think that I'm an MVP, I don't know," Mauer said at a news conference. "I can't really describe it. ... It is an individual award, but my teammates had a lot to do with it. They pushed me every day."
Miguel Cabrera of Detroit received the other first-place vote but the first baseman finished fourth overall, behind Mark Teixeira and Derek Jeter of the Yankees, who finished second and third respectively.
Mauer, 26, became the fifth Twin to win MVP honors, joining Zoilo Versalles (1965), Harmon Killebrew (1969), Rod Carew (1977) and Justin Morneau (2006).
Mauer will get a $100,000 bonus for winning the award, a stipulation in his current contract. The Twins hope to sign him to a long-term contract extension. His current four-year, $33 million deal expires after the 2010 season.
The voters -- two writers from each AL market -- cast their ballots at regular season's end. The postseason is not taken into account.
Mauer won his third batting title and led the league in batting average (.365), on-base percentage (.444) and slugging percentage (.587).
Vizquel joins
Omar Vizquel agreed to a $1,375,000, one-year contract with the Chicago White Sox. The 42-year-old hit .266 with one homer and 14 RBIs in 62 games with the Rangers this season. He had no errors in 207 chances while playing shortstop, third and second.
