Brian Dozier Contract Extension with Twins Reportedly 'Dead'

The 2018 season could very well be the last in a Minnesota Twins uniform for Brian Dozier.

According to ESPN.com's Jerry Crasnick, a potential contract extension between the All-Star second baseman and the team before he hits the free-agent market next offseason is "dead," with no plans of discussing the matter during the season. That means he could be a trade deadline chip.

Dozier will make $9 million this season, per Spotrac.

This latest report comes less than a month after Dozier suggested to Jim Souhan of the Star Tribune that he was prepared to enter the season without an extension:

"I don't want to touch too much on this, it's the thing that gets asked all the time, but at the same time, I will be a free agent this fall. That's the bottom line. You can only say you want to be here so much, and nothing gets done. That's just the way it is. I understand everything. At the same time, you're six months away from free agency. That's intriguing."

Minnesota fans may not want to hear that kind of talk, but the veteran infielder understands baseball is a business.

In 2017, Dozier helped the Twins win 85 games and earn a berth in the American League Wild Card Game. He hit .271/.359/.498 with 34 home runs, 30 doubles, four triples and 93 RBI while winning his first Gold Glove. That followed up a 42-home run, 99-RBI performance in 2016. He has received AL MVP votes in each of the past three seasons.

Not only has he been great both at the plate and in the field for Minnesota, but he has also managed to stay in the lineup. Since getting his feet wet as a rookie in 2012, he has averaged 153 games per season over the last five years.

Dozier will be 31 years old when the season ends, meaning this offseason may be his last chance to really cash in. He will have made around $21 million in his career by the time his current contract runs out, a bargain for a player of his caliber.

There's no doubt losing Dozier would leave a hole in the Twins lineup. The 5'11", 200-pound second baseman has led the team in home runs for five straight years and has been the leading run producer in each of the last two seasons. But of course, a player like that won't come cheap, which could be why Dozier appears headed toward the open market.