Twins sign Morneau for six years

Jan 26, 2008 - 1:40 AM MINNEAPOLIS (Ticker) -- The Minnesota Twins finally made a long-term commitment to Justin Morneau.

The Twins agreed to terms with Morneau on a six-year deal Friday, keeping the first baseman in Minnesota well into the next decade.

Minnesota also signed outfielder Michael Cuddyer to a three-year contract with a club option for 2011.

The team did not disclose financial terms for either deal, both of which are pending physicals. But the Minneapolis Star-Tribune reported on its web site that Morneau agreed to an $80 million deal while Cuddyer's contract is worth $23 million.

"It went quietly and under the radar," Twins general manager Bill Smith said. "And I think the spirit of this thing is that both players wanted to stay in the organization and we wanted to keep them in the organization."

The 2006 American League MVP, Morneau had been negotiating a long-term contract with the Twins since last winter, settling for one-year deals each of the past two years to avoid salary arbitration.

"To be in Minnesota and know that I am going to be here for another six years, it's a great feeling to be here and know that I am going to be with this organization for that long," Morneau said.

"It's pretty exciting just to know that I come to the ballpark every day and the only thing I have to worry about is playing baseball and trying to help us win a World Series."

Just seven days ago, Morneau signed a one-year deal worth $7.5 million - a considerable raise from the $4.5 million he made in 2007.

"Once we settled on arbitration, it really started like a week ago and it moved really quickly actually," Morneau said. "A lot quicker than most stuff like this usually does. We went back and forth a few times, it was great, we kind of met in the middle and it was good for both sides."

"Things moved a lot quicker than big deals usually do," Minnesota assistant general manager Rob Antony said.

A native of New Westminster, British Columbia, Morneau reportedly turned down a four-year, $33 million offer from the Twins last winter. The lefthanded slugger went on to deliver a terrific season, batting .271 with 31 home runs and 111 RBI in 2007.

"The timing was great," Morneau said. "You know, I had the good year in '06 and I guess they wanted to see if I could follow it up again, and I had another pretty good year and I think the timing was right for it."

Morneau, 26, emerged as one of the top young power hitters in the game in 2006, when he batted .321 with 34 homers and 130 RBI to lead the Twins to the AL Central Division title and edge New York Yankees shortstop Derek Jeter for the AL MVP.

Cuddyer, 28, batted .276 with 16 homers and 81 RBI in 144 games last season - his seventh with the Twins.