FORT MYERS, Fla. -- All-Star closer Glen Perkins didnt exactly enhance his bargaining power when he told the Minnesota Twins he was eager to get a deal done that would enable him to stay at home. Perkins got his wish Friday, agreeing to a four-year contract that guarantees him $22,175,000. "I approached them because I wanted to be here," Perkins said. "I wanted to make that clear, first and foremost, that I believe in what were doing here and I wanted to be a part of that. Im thankful to them for even broaching the subject on something they werent required to do." Born in St. Paul, Perkins went to the University of Minnesota and was the Twins first-round draft pick in 2004. Perkins had been due $4,975,000 this year and $3.75 million in 2015 under his previous deal, which included a $4.5 million team option for 2016 with a $300,000 buyout. His new contract gives him $4,025,000 this year, $4.65 million in 2015, $6.3 million in 2016 and $6.5 million in 2017. The Twins have a $6.5 million option for 2018 with a $700,000 buyout. "I wanted to be here. I grew up in Minnesota. Theres nowhere else that Ive ever wanted to play," Perkins said. "And so now, hopefully, this is something where Ill get to play here for my whole career." The 31-year-old lefty converted 36 of 40 save chances last year and was 2-0 with a 2.30 ERA. He had 21 saves at the break and was selected for the AL All-Star team for the first time. "One less thing to worry about," Twins manager Ron Gardenhire said. Perkins has a 28-17 career record with a 3.89 ERA and 54 saves. "Im excited about the commitment they made and look forward to rewarding them, like I did the last two years," he said. "They gave me a chance in the bullpen a couple years ago and I rewarded them, and I look forward to doing that for the next four, maybe five years." Asked whether he might have taken a discount for his services, Perkins replied, "Ill take a $22 million discount any day of the week. I want to be here, and thats the most important thing. Thats more money than I need. Its not about that. Its about being here and being home." The Twins announced the deal while playing a pair of split-squad games. Perkins pitched a hitless inning as Minnesota and Baltimore tied at 2 in Fort Myers. Gardenhire guided the other split squad to a 7-3 win over the New York Yankees in Tampa. Gardenhire said hed heard the Twins and Perkins were working on a deal. "Im excited for him," Gardenhire said, adding with a laugh, "I think when the contracts up, hell be in a wheelchair." Perkins made his major league debut with the Twins in 2006. He was 12-4 as a full-time starter in 2008, remained in the rotation in 2009 and then began his move to the bullpen. "The guys come a long way from wanting to be a starter and complaining about it," Gardenhire said, who liked how Perkins had "grown up" with the Twins. "Very good pitcher with a great arm," he said. 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The opener scored 48 per cent of his runs through the mid-on region, striking 10 fours and three sixes, to set the Black Caps on course for 180-5.Sharjeel Khan produced a dazzling 47 off 25 balls in response but the chase fizzled out as spinners Mitchell Santner (2-29) and Ish Sodhi (1-25) grasped control, Shahid Afridis side closing on 158-5. Martin Guptill targets his favourite area - going straight against Pakistan Guptill, the third highest run-scorer in T20I cricket, opened his boundary count in glorious style, launching Mohammad Irfan down the ground for a straight six before plundering three fours off the next over, bowled by Mohammad Amir.The right-hander dominated an opening stand of 62 with Kane Williamson (17), who was rather subdued before he miscued a drive off Irfan to Afridi at cover.Colin Munro, likewise, failed to get going - his switch-hit picking out Sharjeel in the deep off Afridis bowling - and Guptill might have fallen on 49 but survived a close lbw shout from the same bowler.Reprieved, he reached his 10th T20I fifty off 33 balls and scored at two-a--ball thereafter before playing Mohammad Sami on, attempting to dab the ball past third man.ddddddddddddCorey Anderson (21) fell displaying greater intent, mistiming a drive off Afridi to long-off, and Luke Ronchi steered Sami to point but Ross Taylor (36 not out off 23 balls) put New Zealand in the box-seat. Kane Williamson made 17 but failed to really get going Pakistans response was bullish - Sharjeel striking nine fours and a six as he and Ahmed Shehzad (30 off 32) racked up 65 off the first 5.3 overs.Khalid Latif, in danger of halting the flow, slogged Santner up in the air and Shehzad also fell to the left-arm spinner trying to force the rate.Fellow slow bowler Sodhi helped pile the pressure on Pakistan, picking up the key wicket of Afridi in the process - the skipper lofting the ball high to long-off where Anderson stretched to hold a stunning catch.With the required rate steadily mounting, Umar Akmal (24 off 26) and Shoaib Malik strived in vain to produce a grandstand finish but with no boundaries coming in the last 5.1 overs, New Zealand cantered home.Watch highlights of New Zealand against Pakistan on Sky Sports 2 from 7pm - then join us for England against Afghanistan live on the same channel from 9am on Wednesday. ' ' '