MINNEAPOLIS — There is much to fix before the Minnesota Twins can climb back into contention. Terry Ryan knew right where he wanted to start when he resumed his role as general manager.

Veteran infielder Jamey Carroll signed a two-year contract with the Twins worth at least $6.5 million, a deal announced Wednesday that includes a mutual option for the 2014 season. Carroll will turn 38 before spring training begins, but that didn’t scare away the Twins, who’ve had four opening day shortstops in the last four years — plus five other players who’ve started several games at one of the sport’s most important positions.

“We had issues trying to make the routine play,” Ryan said, referring to last season’s 99-loss debacle. “I think everybody saw that. If we can solidify that, it’ll help our pitching staff and it’ll help a lot of things.”

Carroll is an “old school type player” as manager Ron Gardenhire put it, a scrappy, fundamentally sound, trustworthy veteran who will be asked to stay healthy, set a good example for the young guys, be strong with his glove and get on base.

He’ll be the quarterback on defense, not offense, but he batted .290 in 452 at-bats with a .359 on-base percentage last year for the Los Angeles Dodgers so he’s capable of some production even though he has only 12 career home runs.

“I understand who I am at the plate. I understand my part of the game and how I fit in the lineup,” Carroll said. He added: “I have no problem going 0 for 4 and moving four runners over to third base. Hopefully we got four runs out of it, and we won 4-3.”

Ryan said that Carroll will compete for the starting job, but the Twins didn’t sign him to be a utility man.

He’ll make $2.75 million this season and $3.75 million the season after that, with the opportunity to earn bonuses for incentives such as 550-plus plate appearances or winning a Gold Glove award. If Carroll has 401 or more plate appearances in 2013, he’ll have the option to return to the Twins in 2014 for $2 million or become a free agent. If he doesn’t make it to the batter’s box that many times in 2013, the Twins will have the option, either to keep him at that agreed-upon 2014 salary or buy out his contract for $250,000.

“I understand this position that we’re in right now and how this team is made up. I obviously did my homework, and I’m excited for this opportunity,” Carroll said. “I understand that if you want anything in life you’ve got work hard for it to be rewarded. I knew I was going to hear my age. I don’t think I’m as old as people think. I do my best to take care of myself in the offseason, and I go out there with the mindset that I’m going to be playing every day.”