Twins avoid arbitration with Mientkiewicz

[WebHamster]

Minneapolis, MN (Sports Network) - The Minnesota Twins and first baseman Doug Mientkiewicz avoided salary arbitration on Monday and agreed to a two-year contract worth a reported $7 million.

The club has an option for the 2006 season.

Mientkiewicz had been asking for $3.6 million through arbitration and the club had offered $2.5 million. A hearing was scheduled for later this week.

The 29-year-old Mientkiewicz earned $1.75 million last year when he hit .300 with 38 doubles, 11 homers and 65 RBI in 142 games. He finished ninth in the American League in on-base percentage (.393) and had a .997 fielding percentage with just four errors.

A fifth-round pick in the 1995 draft, Mientkiewicz has played four full seasons and parts of two others with the Twins. He has a career batting average of .279 with 38 homers in 565 games.

Mientkiewicz is also one of the top fielders at his position, having won a Gold Glove in 2001.