Justin Morneau: 'I Help Us More By Being In The Lineup Every Day'

Knowing how precarious the health situation is for Justin Morneau, it seems like he already knows where he needs to be. And it doesn't sound like that's first base.

Glen Perkins Contract: Twins Signs Pitcher To 3-Year Extension

The Minnesota Twins have signed reliever Glen Perkins to a three-year contract extension, according to MLB.com.

The deal, which was finalized Thursday, is worth a guaranteed $10.3 million and runs through the 2015 season; the Twins have a club option for 2016.

According to the MLB.com report, Twins executive vice president and general manager Terry Ryan was effusive about the lefty:

We are very pleased to reach this agreement with Glen. He has been a reliable reliever for us and has helped stabilize the back end of our bullpen in the setup role. When we were looking for someone to step up last year, it was Glen who seized the opportunity and pitched the way we knew he could, after selecting him out of the University of Minnesota.

Perkins, who was selected 22nd overall in the 2004 First-Year Player Draft, is coming off a career year. He had a 2.48 ERA in 65 appearances and struck out 65 batters in 61.2 innings.

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Justin Morneau Injury Update: 'Close To 100 Percent,' According To Report

The Star Tribune published an article Tuesday detailing an already-mounting list of injuries for the Minnesota Twins.

If it’s an solace, though, the only news on Justin Morneau was good.

Morneau, who has battled concussion symptoms and played just 150 games the past two seasons, is said to be in good health, according to general manager Terry Ryan.

"He’s close to 100 percent," Ryan said. "He’s not quite there but we’re monitoring him. So far, so good. He has been participating and he looks good and is certainly in very good shape, I may add."

But even with Morneau healthy, the Twins are facing some preseason injury woes. Reliever Joel Zumaya tore his ulnar collateral ligament and is reported to be leaning toward retirement, while infielder Luke Hughes, who is trying to earn a roster spot, has been hampered by a sore right shoulder.

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Justin Morneau: Ron Gardenhire Discusses First Basemen's Concussion, Health Concerns At Twins Spring Training

After a brutally honest media session Friday morning in which Minnesota Twins first baseman Justin Morneau talked about the possibility of retirement if his concussion symptoms linger, Ron Gardenhire told reporters he's not worried about Morneau. Via 1500 ESPN:

Gardenhire added, "It would be silly for you to think he wouldn't be concerned about a concussion when he's had to deal with this for a year and a half. That would be kind of silly. I'm not worried about it."

"When he walked out on the field today, that's all I needed to see, to see he was out there with everybody else doing the drills," Gardenhire said. "That tells me he's ready to go. ...

Morneau, the 2006 AL MVP, has been dogged by injuries the past two seasons, playing in just 150 of a possible 324 games. The nine-year veteran and four-time All-Star has a career batting average of .283. In his 2006 MVP season, Morneau hit .321 with 34 homeruns and 130 RBI.

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Could Justin Morneau Be Forced To Retire If Concussion Symptoms Continue?

Justin Morneau hinted Friday at the possibility of retirement if he's unable to overcome the concussion symptoms that have plagued the Minnesota Twins first baseman the past few seasons.

Justin Morneau Injury: Twins Slugger Should Be Cleared For Spring Training

Justin Morneau hasn't been the most durable hitter in the Minnesota Twins lineup over the past couple of seasons, but the former AL MVP should be good to go this season. The first baseman suffered with concussion symptoms to go along with neck, wrist and knee surgery last year, but is apparently in good health for the start of Spring Training.

Morneau is scheduled to arrive in Fort Myers later this week and, according to general manager Terry Ryan, he should be cleared to practice as soon as he gets to Florida

."From everything I gather, he's looks like he's doing OK," Ryan said Sunday. "He's starting to swing the bat and all that stuff."

"We'll get clearance. But we have to have Justin sign off on it, too, so we can't do anything till he shows up. There's no reason think this is anything other than just paperwork, but we can't do anything until Justin Morneau signs off."

All of that news sounds swell. Hopefully his offseason went as well as it was supposed to go and Morneau's able to spend the majority of the season in the batter's box instead of the dugout.

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Minnesota Twins Offseason News: Concussions Remain Concern As Justin Morneau Prepares For Season

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