Report: Twins agree to terms with Ervin Santana on 4-year, $55-million deal

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Ervin Santana spurned the Minnesota Twins last winter in an effort to increase his value on a one-year deal with the Atlanta Braves.

He was rewarded for his decision Thursday with a franchise-record contract.

The Twins have agreed to a four-year, $55-million contract with Santana, according to multiple reports, marking the largest total sum the team has ever awarded a free agent.

Santana's contract reportedly includes an option for a fifth year that vests if he throws 200 innings in 2018, pushing the potential total sum to $68 million over five seasons.

The signing will cost the Twins their second-round draft pick, after Santana declined a $15.3-million qualifying offer from the Braves last month. Minnesota's first-rounder is protected.

Santana signed with the Braves last winter for $14.1 million after he was unable to secure a lucrative multi-year deal on the open market. He declined a three-year contract from the Twins worth a reported $33 million over three years.

What a difference a year makes.

Santana has put together solid back-to-back seasons after his disastrous 2012, averaging 207 innings and 30-plus starts over his last five years. The 31-year-old struck out 179 batters to 63 walks over 196 innings in 2014. He'll join a rotation that features Phil Hughes in pitcher-friendly Target Field. 

Despite allowing the second-most home runs in the majors since 2010, Santana has cut down his fly-ball rate significantly the last two years to below league average. His improved results have been in part attributed to a reliance on his secondary offerings, which he's appeared to lean more heavily on since his successful 2013 season with the Kansas City Royals.