The Minnesota Twins and second baseman Brian Dozier have agreed to a four-year contract extension, the deal wipes out his remaining years of arbitration eligibility. The contract is worth $20 million. This season he'll make $2 million, after that $3 million in 2016, $6 million in 2017, and $ 9 million in 2018. After the 2018 season he would become a a free agent.Dozier, 27, was drafted by the Minnesota Twins in June 2009, out of Southern Mississippi, in the 8th round of the MLB draft (overall he pick no.252). He'll be 28, in May. He's entering his fourth MLB season in 2015. He hasn't won any awards yet, but he has turned himself into a pretty good home run hitter in his career so far.
Last season was his best out of his first three seasons. He hit .242, with, 112 runs, 145 hits, 23 home runs, 71 rbi's, 21 stolen bases, and 89 walks. And while he didn't end up as an All-Star, he did make some records for the Twins franchise. The 112 runs were the 2nd most in a season, since Chuck Knoblauch had 117 runs scored in 1997. Dozier also had a 20/20 season (which is where a player has 20 home runs and 20 stolen bases in a single season), that was the first time since 2004 a Twins player did that. In 2004, that player was Torii Hunter (who signed back with the Twins in the off-season, after leaving them after 2007). He was the 13th player in the Twins franchise history to have a 20/20 season.
And in April, 2014 he scored 25 runs that month. That broke a record that had stood for 18 years for the Twins, it had been set by Hall of Famer and current Twins manager, Paul Molitor.
Over his first three seasons his career stats are: 387 games played, 217 runs, 355 hits, 77 doubles, 6 triples, 47 home runs, 170 rbi's, 44 stolen bases, 156 walks, and a batting average of .241.
Will Dozier continue to improve? Maybe, he has a shot to improve if he stays healthy. It's a good deal for the Twins. He's pretty much has become a fan favorite on the Twins team too.
