Toronto-born reliever Jesse Crain agreed to a three-year contract with the Minnesota Twins on Tuesday.

The 25-year-old went 4-5 with a 3.52 earned-run average in 68 games last season in helping the Twins to their fourth American League Central title in five seasons.

Minnesota Twins reliever Jesse Crain watches a pitch during 2005-06 major league action. The Canadian-born right-hander signed a three-year deal with the Twins on Tuesday.
(Jim Mone/Associated Press)

He was especially good down the stretch, going 2-0 with a 0.38 ERA and allowing just 14 hits in 22 appearances.  

Crain said he wasn't expecting to be approached with a new contract at this point in the year, especially since Twins general manager Terry Ryan was busy in the off-season signing catcher Joe Mauer to a four-year deal and avoiding arbitration with Canadian slugger and AL MVP Justin Mourneau as well as clean-up hitter Michael Cuddyer. 

"It was something I was actually hoping for, but I wasn't sure it was going to happen with everybody that had arbitration this year," Crain said. "I'm excited for it and look forward to being with the Twins."

The right-handed Crain sports a 19-10 record in two-plus seasons with Minnesota. Though he's primarily used as a setup man for closer Joe Nathan, the Twins believe Crain could move into the closer spot one day.