FORT MYERS, Fla. - The Twins locked up another key cog on Tuesday, agreeing to terms on a four-year, $20 million contract extension for second baseman Brian Dozier.
Dozier, 27, will earn $2 million in 2015, $3 million in 2016, $6 million in 2017 and $9 million in 2018. There are no option years or no-trade clauses.
"Nothing changes except for maybe 400 or 500 more acres of duck-hunting land," Dozier joked at the news conference to announce the deal.
Dozier could have been eligible for salary arbitration for the first time after this season, so this new contract buys out his three potential arbitration years but still enables him to hit the free-agent market at age 31 after the 2018 season.
The last time the Twins signed a player with two-plus years of service time to a multiyear extension was center fielder Denard Span in March 2010. Span signed for five years and $16.5 million, plus a $9 million club option for 2015; Span was traded to the Washington Nationals for pitching prospect Alex Meyer after the 2012 season.
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Twins assistant general manager Rob Antony, who spearheaded talks with Dozier’s agent, Damon Lapa, said the two sides discussed a number of potential deal lengths and terms. Deals of up to eight years were discussed before the two sides optioned to pull back and limit the deal to run through Dozier’s arbitration years.
"It just made sense for both sides," Lapa said.
"Brian’s marching orders were pretty simple: Explore it, and let’s work through what they feel is important to them while trying to address his needs and concerns and his desire for some security and more importantly his desire to be here. When you incorporate that, you don’t come in with a dollar amount or term in mind."
Twins general manager Terry Ryan said Dozier’s uncommon power for the position along with excellent baserunning and defense were all factors in the decision to lock him up. So was Dozier’s character.
"That is a big factor," Ryan said. "When you give guys security like that, four years at the dollars we’re talking about, character plays a huge role, and he has character. He’s a good man. He’s good in the clubhouse. People follow him. We wouldn’t extend this type of dollar figure and security to a guy that we don’t trust. We trust him, on and off the field."
An eighth-round draft pick out of Southern Mississippi in 2009, Dozier broke in as a shortstop in 2012 but made a successful move to second base in 2013.
He led the Twins with 23 home runs last season and has hit 41 combined homers the past two years. New manager Paul Molitor is considering batting Dozier third in the order, behind Danny Santana and Joe Mauer.
Three weeks ago, Dozier signed a one-year deal for $590,000. The new contract replaces that figure for 2015.
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In 2014 Dozier became the first Twins player since Torii Hunter a decade ago to reach 20 homers and 20 stolen bases in the same season.
Since last spring, the Twins have now hammered out contract extensions for closer Glen Perkins (two years, $14.4 million), Opening Day starter Phil Hughes (three years, $42 million) and Dozier.
Dozier has averaged 152 games the past two seasons despite an all-out playing style.
