FORT MYERS, Fla. Moses Malone Jersey . -- 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. Philadelphia 76ers Jerseys . Winnipeg trailed by five points in the final minute when quarterback Drew Willy completed a 13-play, 75-yard drive with Feoli-Gudinos 18-yard touchdown catch on third down to lift the Bombers to a 34-33 victory over the Montreal Alouettes on Friday night. JJ Redick Jersey . "If we only consider this season," Manchester City manager Manuel Pellegrini said, "there is just one club in Manchester -- and its ours.UNIONDALE, N.Y. - This weekend version of New York, New York could cost the Columbus Blue Jackets the playoff spot they are desperate to grab. The Blue Jackets gave everything they had at home in a loss to the playoff-hopeful New York Rangers on Friday night and followed it up with a disheartening 2-0 defeat on Sunday to the New York Islanders, who are just playing out the string. "Its the NHL. The other team is paid to play, too," defenceman Jack Johnson said. "There is no easy teams. Nobody took them lightly, nobody didnt understand the gravity of the situation, we just didnt score a goal." Evgeni Nabokov made 41 saves in his 58th NHL shutout, and Travis Hamonic scored a coast-to-coast, power-play goal in the second period to pace the Islanders, who are third to last in the Eastern Conference. Columbus had a total of 24 shots in the first two periods and then fired 17 in a desperate final frame when the Blue Jackets had four of their six power plays. "If you cant come and push yourself every night, go do putt-putt or something," Johnson said. "Everyone tried. We knew how important this one was. I cant question anyones effort. It was just a tough game." The Blue Jackets power play has gone 0 for 35 the past nine games. They will have to get better over the final 11 games, starting with a key home matchup on Tuesday against Detroit, which is neck and neck with Columbus in the playoff race. Columbus, which has dropped to fifth in the Metropolitan Division, has fallen out of an Eastern Conference playoff position. The Blue Jackets have lost three of four. "These points are huge right now," centre Ryan Johansen said. "Against a team like the Islanders, who are playing spoiler right now, its very frustrating. Weve got to learn from it but we cant dwell on this." Nabokov got the best of Russian counterpart Sergei Bobrovsky in their third meeting this season and posted his third shutout in this campaign. It was just the Islanders second regulation win ever over the Blue Jackets. Cal Clutterbuck also scored for the Islanders, who bounced back from a 6-0 loss to Minnesota on Tuesday and finished a 2-2 homestand. "We were playing hard for our fans. We worked hard and we found a way to win," Nabokov said. "We knew they were playing a third gaame in four (days) and we wanted to make it tough for them. Darryl Dawkins Jersey. ." Bobrovsky made 30 saves before he was pulled for an extra skater with 1:50 left as Columbus began its final power play. "There is no time to rant and rave," forward Brandon Dubinsky said. "Weve got to be ready to go for our next game. "We certainly need to be a lot better than we were today." Hamonic gave the Islanders struggling power play a lift with a stunning, end-to-end rush up the middle of the ice that produced his second goal of the season with just 51.7 seconds left in the middle period. The defenceman started from behind his net and skated alone on a straight line toward the centre ice logo. He eluded R.J. Umberger in the neutral zone, carried the puck across the blue line and then snapped a shot from the slot over Bobrovskys left shoulder for his first goal since Oct. 29 — a span of 45 games. "I was glad to get that scoring chance and finish it," Hamonic said. "Nice to chip in offensively, but I work to bring a defence presence first. "I was just fortunate to get my feet moving and score." New York had two failed power plays earlier in the second. The first generated little as the Islanders couldnt get organized. The second produced several potential scoring chances, including a seemingly open net for Frans Nielsen to shoot at, but his drive from the right circle hit the outside of the net. The Islanders took a 1-0 lead when Clutterbuck scored his 10th goal just eight seconds after serving a roughing penalty. Johan Sundstrom, in his fourth career NHL game, swung behind the Columbus net and attempted to score on a wraparound at the left post. The puck caromed in front to Nielsen, who nudged it into the slot to Clutterbuck for a shot that beat Bobrovsky with 6:34 left in the first. It was the first career point for Sundstrom, who made his debut on March 14. NOTES: The Islanders only other regulation win over the Blue Jackets since Columbus joined the NHL for the 2000-01 season was a 4-0 home victory on Dec. 23, 2006. ... The Blue Jackets fell to 11-2-4 against the Islanders and 4-2-2 at Nassau Coliseum. ... Hamonic has 12 goals in 241 career NHL games. ... New York announced after the game it agreed to terms on a one-year extension with LW Eric Boulton. Cheap Nike Chiefs Jerseys Chargers Jerseys China Wholesale Raiders Jerseys China Cowboys Jerseys ChinaCheap Giants Jerseys Hoodies Cheap Eagles Jerseys Free Shipping Cheap Nike Redskins Jerseys Lions Jerseys China Green Bay Packers Jerseys For Sale Wholesale Vikings Jerseys ChinaPanthers Jerseys China Saints Jerseys China Cheap Buccaneers Jerseys Free Shipping Wholesale Cardinals Jerseys China Cheap Nike Rams Jerseys 49ers Jerseys China Wholesale Seahawks Jerseys China Cheap Nike Bears Jerseys Bills Jerseys China Cheap Nike Ravens Jerseys Cheap Falcons Jerseys Hoodies ' ' '
