The Minnesota Twins signed second baseman Brian Dozier to a four-year, $20 million contract Tuesday.
The new deal will supersede the one-year, $590,000 deal Dozier signed three weeks ago, the Pioneer Press reports.
Dozier will make $2 million this season, $3 million in 2016, $6 million in 2017 and $9 million in 2018.
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Dozier had his best season (his third in the big leagues) in 2014, hitting .242 with 23 home runs, 71 RBIs, 112 runs, 33 doubles, 21 stolen bases and 89 walks. With the exception of his batting average, all of those marks were career highs.
According to the Star Tribune, Dozier became just the third player in team history to finish a season with at least 20 homers, 20 stolen bases and 100 runs. Kirby Puckett did it in 1986 and Corey Koskie did it in 2001.
Through nine games this spring Dozier is hitting .462 with 2 home runs and 4 RBIs.
Brian Dozier on his four-year deal worth $20 million: "I couldn't be any happier"
— Rhett Bollinger (@RhettBollinger) March 24, 2015
Dozier hit in the leadoff spot for much of last season, but new manager Paul Molitor is considering batting him third in the order this season behind Danny Santana and Joe Mauer, the Pioneer Press says.
Dozier: "I couldn't be more happier. as I have said, I want to play my entire career here,"
— LaVelle E. Neal III (@LaVelleNeal) March 24, 2015
