Twins Come to Terms with Jepsen

MINNEAPOLIS (AP) — Right-hander Kevin Jepsen has avoided salary arbitration by agreeing to a one-year contract worth $5,312,500.

The agreement, announced Friday, gives the pitcher a raise of more than $2 million from his earnings of $3,025,000 last year. The settlement was above the $5,225,000 midpoint between the $5.4 million he had asked for and the $5.05 million Minnesota had offered when the sides exchanged proposed arbitration salaries last week.

Jepsen was acquired last summer from Tampa Bay Rays and had a 1.61 ERA in 29 appearances with the Twins, including 10 saves while closer Glen Perkins was injured. Jepsen pitched in an AL-high 75 games.

Infielder Trevor Plouffe is Minnesota's last player in arbitration.

Minnesota also claimed left-hander Mike Strong off waivers from the Miami Marlins. Strong was a 10th-round draft pick in 2011 by Milwaukee who has a 3.61 ERA in five minor league seasons. Strong went to Stillwater High School in Minnesota, as did Perkins.