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Twins, closer Fernando Rodney reach 1-year deal

MLB, Minnesota Twins, Arizona Diamondbacks

The Minnesota Twins have agreed to a one-year deal with closer Fernando Rodney, according to multiple reports Thursday.

The deal, first reported by Sirius XM, could reach $6 million with incentives and is pending a physical.

Rodney went 5-4 with a 4.23 ERA and converted 39 of 45 save chances last season in his one season in Arizona. He was signed to a one-year deal in the offseason and enjoyed a reliable year as closer, as the Diamondbacks reached the National League Division Series.

After two down seasons with four different teams, Rodney bounced back with a solid campaign in 2017 and finished the season with the third-most saves in the National League. He improved his strikeout-to-walk ratio (2.50) by almost 1.

Rodney, who will turn 41 on March 18, ranks sixth in the majors among active pitchers in career saves (300) and has a 3.73 ERA in 14 major league seasons with eight teams. He made an All-Star team three times, including in 2012, when he had a career-high 48 saves and a 0.60 ERA with the Rays.

Rodney, from the Dominican Republic, is known for his shoot-the-arrow pantomime after he finishes off saves.

Matt Belisle closed for the Twins in the final two months of last season after Brandon Kintzler was traded to Washington on July 31.

The Associated Press contributed to this report.

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