Minnesota Twins closer Glen Perkins signs contract extension

There is always a need for high-impact closers in Major League Baseball, and the Minnesota Twins have chosen to lock down their incumbent, Glen Perkins, with a lucrative contract extension.

The Twins officially announced an extension through 2017 for Perkins on Friday, and the deal is reportedly worth $22.1 million of guaranteed money over the next four seasons. In actuality, the 31-year-old Perkins is actually taking less money for the 2014 season (decreasing from $4.975 million to $4.025 million), but the long-term security was clearly enticing for the left-hander, and it’s tough to blame him.

In 2013, Perkins finally got a chance to be the full-time closer in Minnesota, and he came up big in an effort to prove himself. He tossed 62.2 innings of lights-out relief, posting a 2.30 ERA with a 11.06 K/9, and with that, Perkins was able to save 36 games for the Twins. On the bright side for the club, this was the third straight year in which Perkins posted a sub-3.00 ERA, and clearly, the club felt comfortable with his ability to sustain this type of effectiveness long-term.

Relief pitching is, by trade, one of the more volatile things in Major League Baseball, but if the Twins can enjoy the 2013 version of Perkins (or anything resembling it), this will be a bargain.