The Twins will make another attempt to sign Brian Dozier to a long-term deal.

The Twins have been in contact with Dozier's agent, Damon Lapa, about an extension, according to persons with knowledge of the talks. The sides are expected to talk more this week.

The Twins and Dozier tried to strike a deal last spring training but failed to agree on the numbers and decided to wait a year and give it another try.

Dozier went out and batted .242 with 23 home runs and 71 RBI. He also walked 89 times and stole 21 bases. At age 27, Dozier is hitting those peak years and the Twins are interested in those years coming in their uniform.

The Twins do have a potential long-term solution at second in Jorge Polanco, who is impressing onlookers in camp. Polanco, signed about the same time as Miguel Sano in 2009, was called up in an emergency role last season and didn't look out of place.

Dozier on Tuesday was one of 25 players to agree to a one-year contract. All players on the 40-man roster are now signed. That won't stop the Twins from exploring a longer deal with Dozier this week.

Ingram's cancer is back

Popular Twins minor league coach Riccardo Ingram will not be present at spring training this year as he fights for his life a second time because of brain cancer. Ingram, 48, is being treated in Atlanta, which is not far from his home in Lilburn, Ga.

"I don't think anything is impossible with Riccardo," Twins General Manager Terry Ryan said. "He's overcome a lot of odds."

In 2009, Ingram experienced pounding headaches that led to the discovery of Grade 4 glioblastoma in the front of his brain. At the time, 90-95 percent of people with that type of cancer die within a year. But Ingram underwent six weeks of radiation therapy and survived.

The Twins helped out by naming him a roving hitting instructor between Class AAA Rochester and Class AA New Britain. That allowed him to make visits to Duke University Medical Center for follow-up care.

Ingram is scheduled to be the hitting coach for the Gulf Coast League rookie team this season. He's been coaching in the Twins farm system since 1998.

Game time

Jose Berrios will start for the Twins on Wednesday against the Gophers and Glen Perkins, a University of Minnesota alum, will follow him. After that, Mark Hamburger, Ryan Pressly and Michael Tonkin will pitch.

Kyle Gibson will start Thursday against Boston in the official Grapefruit League opener.

The Twins expect a crowd of between 6,000 and 7,000 for the game aganist the Gophers, including 1,500 construction workers who are being saluted.

Etc.

Oswaldo Arcia, Trevor May, Byron Buxton and Kurt Suzuki all returned to action Tuesday after missing a day because of the flu. Jordan Schafer hadn't recovered and was sent home for a second consecutive day.

Let's meet

Tyler Duffey

Righthander

Age: 24

2014 stats: 13-3, 3.68 ERA in 25 starts between Class A Fort Myers (four), Class AA New Britain (18) and Class AAA Rochester (three).

Acquired: Drafted in the fifth round out of Rice in 2012.

Role: Starting pitcher at Class AAA Rochester

Did you know? Duffey was taking an exam on a computer at Rice in 2012 when he heard his name announced at the MLB draft.

La Velle E. Neal III