Contract negotiations between the Twins and Joe Mauer “couldn’t be going better,” according to manager Ron Gardenhire.

USA Today baseball writer Bob Nightengale wrote today on his Twitter page, “Twins manager Ron Gardenhire says talks with Joe Mauer couldn’t be going better,” and “It would be massive upset if Mauer’s contract extension isn’t resolved by spring.”

Mauer, the 2009 AL MVP, is entering the final year of his contract, and if he were to become a free agent, could generate interest from the Yankees, Red Sox and Mets, among others.