Mauer gets a backup

The Twins agreed to a one-year contract with former Atlanta and Milwaukee catcher Henry Blanco on Thursday, giving the team the veteran they were seeking to serve as a backup and mentor to rookie Joe Mauer, effectively giving the starting job to the St. Paul phenom.

Mauer, a Cretin-Derham Hall graduate and the No. 1 pick in the 2001 draft, has been groomed as the replacement for A.J. Pierzynski, traded to San Francisco last month.

"When A.J. got traded, I didn't think this would happen this quickly," Mauer said Thursday. "It's something I've always wanted to do. I'm thankful the organization thinks I'm ready for the challenge."

Mauer, who has never played above Class AA, was chosen Baseball America's minor league player for 2003. He batted .335 with one home run and 44 runs batted in at Class A Fort Myers before being promoted to Class AA New Britain, where he hit .341 with four homers and 41 RBIs.

"I put most of the pressure on myself. Hopefully I can take the job and run with it," Mauer said.

Blanco, 32, likely will play once or twice a week for the Twins, filling the role that Tom Prince occupied when the team was grooming Pierzynski in 2001 and 2002.

"He can take on that job. That's not an easy thing to do," general manager Terry Ryan said. "We're in pretty good shape there. You probably won't see us active in the catcher market unless something happens injury-wise in spring training."

Blanco, Greg Maddux's personal catcher in Atlanta, has spent five seasons in the major leagues. Although a strong defensive catcher, he hit .199 with 13 RBIs in and one homer — all career lows — in 55 games last season. He refused to accept an assignment to Class AAA Richmond last month and became a free agent.

Mauer was unaware of Blanco's signing when contacted Thursday. "He should be a great person to learn from," he said. "I'm excited to meet him."

Blanco's deal is worth $750,000 next season and includes a team option for 2005.

"He was a veteran catcher we had pinpointed, and he's the right fit for us," Ryan said. "For the better part of the fall, Blanco's name continued to come up. We talked to him at length probably since the end of the season."

But for all practical purposes, the move means the Twins are set on Mauer as their full-time catcher next season. Blanco has played more than 100 games only once, logging 104 with Milwaukee in 2001.

Blanco, playing for Caracas in the Venezuelan Winter League, is hitting .297 with nine homers and 37 RBIs.

The move fills one of the Twins' three major needs in the free-agent market. Minnesota still is searching for a starting pitcher and help in the bullpen after trading starter Eric Milton to Philadelphia and letting relievers LaTroy Hawkins and Eddie Guardado leave in free agency.

The Twins invited Mauer and three other catchers — Chris Heintz, Brandon Marsters and Gabby Torres — to training camp as non-roster players Thursday.