FORT MYERS, Fla. -- All-Star closer Glen Perkins didnt exactly enhance his bargaining power when he told the Minnesota Twins he was eager to get a deal done that would enable him to stay at home. Perkins got his wish Friday, agreeing to a four-year contract that guarantees him $22,175,000. "I approached them because I wanted to be here," Perkins said. "I wanted to make that clear, first and foremost, that I believe in what were doing here and I wanted to be a part of that. Im thankful to them for even broaching the subject on something they werent required to do." Born in St. Paul, Perkins went to the University of Minnesota and was the Twins first-round draft pick in 2004. Perkins had been due $4,975,000 this year and $3.75 million in 2015 under his previous deal, which included a $4.5 million team option for 2016 with a $300,000 buyout. His new contract gives him $4,025,000 this year, $4.65 million in 2015, $6.3 million in 2016 and $6.5 million in 2017. The Twins have a $6.5 million option for 2018 with a $700,000 buyout. "I wanted to be here. I grew up in Minnesota. Theres nowhere else that Ive ever wanted to play," Perkins said. "And so now, hopefully, this is something where Ill get to play here for my whole career." The 31-year-old lefty converted 36 of 40 save chances last year and was 2-0 with a 2.30 ERA. He had 21 saves at the break and was selected for the AL All-Star team for the first time. "One less thing to worry about," Twins manager Ron Gardenhire said. Perkins has a 28-17 career record with a 3.89 ERA and 54 saves. "Im excited about the commitment they made and look forward to rewarding them, like I did the last two years," he said. "They gave me a chance in the bullpen a couple years ago and I rewarded them, and I look forward to doing that for the next four, maybe five years." Asked whether he might have taken a discount for his services, Perkins replied, "Ill take a $22 million discount any day of the week. I want to be here, and thats the most important thing. Thats more money than I need. Its not about that. Its about being here and being home." The Twins announced the deal while playing a pair of split-squad games. Perkins pitched a hitless inning as Minnesota and Baltimore tied at 2 in Fort Myers. Gardenhire guided the other split squad to a 7-3 win over the New York Yankees in Tampa. Gardenhire said hed heard the Twins and Perkins were working on a deal. "Im excited for him," Gardenhire said, adding with a laugh, "I think when the contracts up, hell be in a wheelchair." Perkins made his major league debut with the Twins in 2006. He was 12-4 as a full-time starter in 2008, remained in the rotation in 2009 and then began his move to the bullpen. "The guys come a long way from wanting to be a starter and complaining about it," Gardenhire said, who liked how Perkins had "grown up" with the Twins. "Very good pitcher with a great arm," he said. Kyle Gibson, who made 10 starts for Minnesota last year, was glad to hear Perkins would be sticking around for a while. "I dont know if theres anybody better out there. Hes a great team guy. Hes a leader," Gibson said after pitching four innings against the Yankees. Fake Air Jordan 14 . Future Hall of Famer Ricky Ray is in his prime and back for a third season in double blue. The 34-year old was magnificent in 2013, throwing for just under 2,900 yards despite missing eight games, tossing an impressive 21 touchdowns against just two interceptions, completing 66 per cent of his passes in the process. Fake Jordans 2019 . His head snapped back from the impact and hit the floor. The All-Star power forward was all right afterward, a relief for the Minnesota Timberwolves. http://www.fakeairjordan.com/. Adding playoff teams. Monitoring instant replay from league headquarters. Possibly creating a set of guidelines to prevent locker-room bullying. Fake Air Jordan 1 . - The RBC Canadian Open will return to Glen Abbey Golf Club next year, marking the 27th time that the national open championship will be played at the Oakville, Ont. Cheap Fake Jordans . The time off didnt slow them down. Tyler Zeller scored a season-high 18 points and grabbed a career-best 15 rebounds, Kyrie Irving added 14 points and the Cavaliers pushed their winning streak to five games Tuesday night with a 114-85 victory over the skidding Philadelphia 76ers.While taking in Thursday nights absorbing scenes and thoroughly unscripted climax from the Bronx as Derek Jeter said his emotional goodbyes to Yankee Stadium, I couldnt help but think of Ryan Giggs. Then thoughts of Frank Lampard crossed my mind, but more on Manchester Citys joint top scorer another time. Giggs, like Jeter, will be remembered as a one club man. The Welshman trotted out at Old Trafford for a remarkable 23 seasons before eventually hanging them up in the spring. For Jeters five World Series rings, he won a pair of European Cups and 13 Premier League titles. Now installed as Louis Van Gaals right-hand man in the dugout, Giggs has certainly endured a baptism by fire since joining the managerial ranks. It wasnt exactly plain sailing after he took over from David Moyes in late April. With ?￡150 million invested in the transfer market and Louis Van Gaal installed as Sir Alex Fergusons Heir Version 2.0, they were certainly meant to improve on last seasons Annus Horribilis. Hardly. The Dutchman likely wishes he could take a can of that vanishing spray and wipe this early part of his tenure off the records. If getting trounced in the Capital One Cup by MK Dons wasnt bad enough, last Sundays second-half meltdown against newly-promoted Leicester must rank as one of the worst moments in recent club history. Perhaps you have to go all the way back to that infamous Denis Law back heel against his former club back in 1974 for a comparable moment. It wasnt so much the calamity Jane-type defending. It was the cavalier attitude from too many wearing one of the first famous jerseys in world sport. And Van Gaals wholly unbalanced team selection provided added motivation. Whether or not Van Gaal took the opponent way too lightly, well never know. If he had any illusions of how utterly competitive the BPL was, they should surely have evaporated away when Ulloa tucked away Leicesters fifth. In the aftermath, Giggs ex-team mate Phil Neville suggested the English giants needed to invest a further ?￡100m over the next two transfer windows for United to be in position to challenge for a title. Not sure the supporters nor the majority shareholders are willing to write off upwards of two more seasons. Van Gaal was bought in to have an impact with immediatte effect.dddddddddddd It seems by his news conferences that hes spending more time thinking up excuses and laying blame with all others than he is even willing to accept responsibility. His pre-match comments regarding a scarcity of central defenders ahead of Saturday mornings encounter at Old Trafford (against a resurgent West Ham who put Liverpool firmly in their place in East London last Saturday) is his latest. Even our 12-year old recognized in early summer that Manchester United were in desperate need of Grade A centre-halves and the hallmark leadership qualities of the departing Nemanja Vidic. Ive forgot how many trees have been torn down over the months as the football media kept up their incessant write-ups about a desperate and immediate need for central defenders - and yet one didnt even arrive on a Falcao-type loan. If its because Van Gaal couldnt acquire the one or two players he wanted most, then he has no right to plead centre-half poor. Everyone wants Cristiano Ronaldo, but hes not for sale - at least not just yet. Did that prevent United overpaying for Angel Di Maria? Apparently not. Van Gaal might already be ruing his Leicester pre-match comments that only Wayne Rooney is guaranteed a starting place, where it now seems Englands first choice centre-forward will have to get fully accustomed to the midfield role Van Gaal has now bestowed. Any more of this and Wayne might have to slot into central defence. With the Leicester debacle fresh in the minds of 75,000 plus at Old Trafford, West Hams manager Sam Allardyce fears a Manchester United backlash. All Fat Sam has to do after breakfast Saturday is show his team the video of that classic West Ham victory at Old Trafford in the 2001 FA Cup. Paolo Di Canio, in acres of space, slotted away the legendry winner as Uniteds completely exposed goalkeeper Fabien Barthez went the mind game route as he desperately tried to con the referees assistant into awarding an illusionary offside call. Even in defeat, Giggs starred for United that day. You wonder though if he hung up more than his boots last May. Manchester United vs. West Ham is live Saturday on the TSN and TEAM Radio Network with pre-game coverage at 9:30am et /6:30am pt. Noel.Butler@BellMedia.ca @TheSoccerNoel on Twitter ' ' '