MINNEAPOLIS — The Minnesota Twins reached agreement with two arbitration-eligible players on one-year contracts Tuesday, the last day for teams and players to exchange salary figures.
Minnesota signed left-handed reliever Glen Perkins to a one-year, $1.55 million deal while also agreeing to a one-year, $5.5 million deal with starter Francisco Liriano.
"Any time you can avoid the process, if it makes sense, you try to do so," said Twins assistant general manager Rob Antony. "We were able to reach a number that both sides were satisfied with."
Twins infielder Alexi Casilla is also eligible for arbitration. The two sides did not come to an agreement Tuesday.
Perkins, 28, had a breakout year in 2011 as Minnesota's setup man, posting a 2.48 ERA and a WHIP (walks plus hits per inning pitched) of 1.232. He struck out 65 batters in 61-2/3 innings and also recorded two saves. His 2012 salary is more than double the $700,000 he made in 2011.
Liriano, 28, is coming off a season in which he went 9-10 with a 5.09 ERA in 26 games (24 starts). Liriano, who threw a no-hitter in May, battled injuries during the season and missed a month late in the year because of a left shoulder strain. He returned in mid-September and made two relief appearances. Liriano surrendered five runs in one-third of an inning against Cleveland in his last outing of the year.
Liriano earned $4.3 million last season and can be a free agent after the 2012 season.
