Twins re-sign SS Punto

Dec 11, 2008 - 6:40 PM LAS VEGAS (Ticker) -- Any questions regarding the Minnesota Twins shortstop situation were answered Thursday as the team agreed to terms with free agent Nick Punto.

Financial details of the two-year contract, with a club option for 2011, were not disclosed.

Punto returns to Minnesota, where he batted .284 with two home runs and 28 RBI in 99 games last season.

Twins manager Ron Gardenhire indicated earlier his week that if the club re-signed the 31-year-old Punto, he likely would be an everyday player.

"(Punto) would be my starting shortstop," Gardenhire said Tuesday. "He brings a lot to our baseball team."

Punto had received offers from other clubs, but said Monday that "my heart is still kind of with Minnesota."

In six-plus seasons with the Twins and Philadelphia Phillies, Punto has batted .252 with 11 home runs and 140 RBI over 611 games. He has compiled a .976 career fielding percentage.