The Twins have signed outfielder Denard Span to a five-year, $16.5 million contract.
It includes a $9 million team option for 2015.
"We go through a pretty good checklist of criteria before we enter discussions with a player about a long-term contract and he has been very good for us for two years," Minnesota general manager Bill Smith said.
"We thought the time was right. It's a big deal for him, it provides him with a lot of security. It provides us some certainty with our leadoff hitter and center fielder."
Span became Minnesota's everyday outfielder when they traded Carlos Gomez this summer.
Twins Give Span Five-Year Deal