Twins sign CF Denard Span to 5-year, $16.5M contract extension

Twins sign Span to 5-year extension

CLEARWATER, Fla. — The Minnesota Twins have signed center fielder Denard Span to a five-year, $16.5 million contract.

The agreement was announced on Saturday and includes a $9 million team option for 2015.

Span was Minnesota’s first-round draft pick in 2002. He spent several years in the minor leagues before cementing a spot on the big league roster last year. He hit .311 with eight homers, 10 triples and 68 RBIs in 145 games, while playing excellent defense in all three outfield spots.

Span became the Twins’ everyday center fielder when they traded Carlos Gomez to Milwaukee in the offseason.

(This version CORRECTS that deal is not an extension.)