Minnesota Twins Extend Glen Perkins

The Minnesota Twins have agreed to a three-year, $10.3 million contract extension with pitcher Glen Perkins, as the team announced on Thursday. Perkins is set to make $1.55 million in 2012 as part of his previous contract, and the extension will be added on to that deal.

With the contract he already had in place, Perkins' new extension covers the 2013-2015 seasons. The deal also includes a club option for 2016, although it's unclear at this point whether there's a buyout attached to it. A former top prospect, he emerged in a relief role with Minnesota last season and could be the team's long-term closer.

Last season, Perkins made 65 appearances in relief as a 28-year-old. Over 61 innings, he posted a 2.48 ERA with 65 strikeouts and 21 walks, essentially displaying strong numbers across the board. He also saw a major jump in velocity with the change in roles, as he generally sat around 90 MPH as a starter but he averaged 94 MPH with his fastball last year.