Red Sox avoid arbitration with seven players

Boston, MA – The Boston Red Sox avoided salary arbitration with seven players, agreeing to one-year, non-guaranteed contracts with pitchers Afredo Aceves, Andrew Bailey, Daniel Bard, Joel Hanrahan, Andrew Miller, Franklin Morales and outfielder Jacoby Ellsbury on Friday.

With Bailey out most of the 2012 season recovering from thumb surgery, Aceves served as the team's primary closer in 2012, recording a career-high 25 saves. Since 2009, the 30-year-old Aceves has pitched an American League-leading 269 2/3 innings of relief work.

Bailey pitched in just 19 games for the Red Sox last season after the team acquired him in an offseason trade with the Oakland Athletics in December of 2011. He recorded six saves and pitched to a 1-1 record with a 7.04 ERA.

Following two successful seasons out of the bullpen, Bard was transitioned into Boston's rotation in 2012. He made 10 starts in 17 appearances, finishing 5-6 with a 6.22 ERA.

Ellsbury, who missed nearly half of last season with a right shoulder subluxation, managed to hit .271 with four homers, 26 RBI, 43 runs scored and 14 stolen bases in 74 games.

The Red Sox solidified their bullpen by adding Hanrahan this past December in a six-player offseason trade with the Pirates. The two-time All-Star closer is coming off a 5-2 season, where he pitched to a 2.72 ERA and recorded 36 saves, fifth most in the National League.

Miller and Morales both pitched primarily out of the bullpen last season, with Miller making 53 relief appearances in notching a 3-2 record while pitching to a 3.35 earned run average.

During 2012, the 26-year-old Morales appeared in 37 games -- nine of which were starts -- before his campaign was cut short to injury. He tallied a 3-4 record along with a 3.77 ERA.