FORT MYERS, Fla. (AP) The Minnesota Twins have talked a lot about how much they like their young core of players.

They proved that Friday by locking up a pair of them, signing both right fielder Max Kepler and shortstop Jorge Polanco to five-year contracts.

"The idea that you can marry up your current players and core with ones that are coming along the way is a great thought, it allows for sustainability," chief baseball officer Derek Falvey said at news conference at the team's spring training facility.