Minneapolis, MN (SportsNetwork.com) - The Minnesota Twins have signed pitcher Ricky Nolasco to a four-year contract with a club option that could vest in 2018. He will earn a guaranteed $12 million salary in each year of the pact.
The contract is the largest free-agent signing in the club's history, surpassing Josh Willingham's three-year, $21 million deal signed before the 2012 season.
The 30-year-old right-hander split last season with the Marlins and Dodgers, going 13-11 with a 3.70 earned run average in 34 games (33 starts). He finished two-thirds of a frame shy of 200 innings, a milestone he eclipsed in 2008 and 2011.
After being dealt to Los Angeles on July 6, he went 8-3 with a 3.52 ERA in 16 appearances, all but one of them starts, to help the club lock up the NL West title.
Over his eight-year pro career, Nolasco holds an 89-75 record and 4.37 ERA over more than 1,300 innings since 2006.
The Twins are also reportedly finalizing a three-year contract with free-agent pitcher Phil Hughes.
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