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The Minnesota Twins have agreed to terms on a contract with starting pitcher Ricky Nolasco, a source has confirmed to MLB Daily Dish. According to Jeff Passan of Yahoo! Sports, the contract is for four years and $49 million in guaranteed money and includes a club option for 2018. The option can vest and become a player option if Nolasco reaches 175 innings in 2017, according to a source.
The contract is the largest handed out to a free agent in Twins history, surpassing the three-year, $21 million contract that Josh Willingham signed two seasons ago. Willingham and Nolasco are represented by the same agency, Sosnick Cobbe Sports.
Sources indicated that the Twins originally only wanted to guarantee three years with a club option for a fourth, so their willingness to include a fourth guaranteed year was likely the turning point in negotiations.
Nolasco, who turns 31 in December, was one of the most coveted starters on the free agent market after posting a 13-11 record with a 3.70 ERA in 34 games between the Marlins and Dodgers in 2013. He was traded to Los Angeles at the beginning of July, and helped his free agent stock by posting an 8-3 record and 3.52 ERA in sixteen starts with the Dodgers down the stretch.
Nolasco also received interest from the Dodgers, Giants, Phillies and Padres this offseason, but ultimately decided to fill one of the Twins' rotation holes by heading to Minnesota. The club has also expressed interest in Matt Garza, Ervin Santana, Bronson Arroyo and Mike Pelfrey this winter, and could add another starter before spring training opens in February.
In eight major league seasons with the Marlins (2006-2013) and Dodgers (2013), Nolasco has posted a career 89-75 record and 4.37 ERA in 229 appearances.
