The Twins and outfielder Jordan Schafer have agreed on a one-year, $1.55 million contract that will keep the sides from heading to arbitration.
Schafer last week filed for $1.7 million while the Twins offered $1.4, so the settlement is at the midpoint of the two offers. Schafer, who will be in the mix for the starting center field spot with Aaron Hicks, batted .238 with 30 stolen bases between the Braves and Twins last season. Claimed off waivers in August, Schafer batted .285 with 15 stolen bases in 41 games with the Twins.
That leaves Brian Duensing as the only player who is unsigned and arbitration eligible.
Duensing is seeking $3.1 million next season while the Twins have countered with a $2.4 million offer. He was 3-3 with a 3.31 ERA in 62 games last season and earned $2 million.
Duensing was at the 10th annual Diamond Awards banquet on Thursday to accept an award for his community service. It just so happened that Twins owner Jim Pohlad presented the award.
``We have an arbitration case with Brian, so I can't say anything nice about him," Pohlad joked as the audience laughed.
After accepting his award, Duensing said: ``Thanks for addressing the elephant in the room."
