The Twins extended their streak to nine consecutive years without resorting to an arbitration hearing to settle a contract, agreeing to a one-year, $2.7 million deal with lefthanded reliever Brian Duensing on Saturday.
"I'm glad the process is over with and we agreed. I love this organization, I like that I'm here," Duensing said. "I'm excited to get it done."
His deal means all six eligible Twins have now agreed to contracts for 2015, meaning Kyle Lohse, awarded $3.95 million in 2006, remains the most recent Twins player to have his contract decided by an arbitrator.
The contract also means the Twins payroll is projected to exceed $106 million this season, roughly $20 million more than the team spent in 2013.
Duensing, who had a 3.31 ERA in 54 ⅓ innings last season, had filed for $3.1 million, while the Twins offered $2.4 million. The agreed-upon settlement is not quite the midpoint, but Duensing said he was happy with the result — and happy not to have to appear before an arbitrator.
"It was a tiny bit awkward at first, but I think I was the only one thinking it was awkward," said Duensing, who had planned to attend the hearing if necessary. "I didn't think it would get that far, and I didn't want it to get that far. I didn't want it to go to a [hearing]. I didn't want to be that guy."
There was no discussion of a multiyear contract, said Duensing, who made his Twins debut in 2009 and has played with the team longer than anyone except Joe Mauer and Glen Perkins. He will become a free agent at the end of the season.
"The free-agent market, relievers are starting to get paid a little more ... but I'm trying not to get ahead of myself," Duensing said. "We've got some work to do here first. We've had four tough seasons."