Boston Red Sox general manager Ben Cherington and his staff were extremely busy exchanging figures with arbitration-eligible players and trying to work out new deals on Friday.
Cherington was extremely successful, to say the least, and has a great chance of avoiding arbitration altogether, a place where Boston hasn’t gone since 2002, according to Peter Abraham of The Boston Globe:
The only unsigned player is LHP Craig Breslow. He filed for $2.375 million and the Sox filed for $2.325 million. It seems fair to say they’ll be able to find common ground given the Sox have not gone to a hearing with a player since 2002. Their streak seems sure to continue.
But outside of Breslow, let’s see how Cherington did with other players on what turned out to be an exciting day in Boston (all figures via Abraham’s report).
Andrew Bailey, Relief Pitcher
After an injury-plagued year where Andrew Bailey only pitched in 19 games, he enters 2013 as Boston’s setup man instead of its closer.
Bailey needs to make the most of his new role—a role where I think he’ll do just fine. Bailey made $3.9 million last season and avoided going to arbitration by settling on a $0.2 million increase for 2013.
Daniel Bard, Relief Pitcher
Daniel Bard’s 2012 campaign was an absolute disaster. He started the season in the Red Sox rotation and immediately struggled.
Bard went down to the minor leagues to try and figure things out, but he just couldn’t do it. He’s best suited coming out of the bullpen, which is where he’ll be in 2013. Bard will make $1.8625 million this year after avoiding arbitration.
Jarrod Saltalamacchia, Catcher
Jarrod Saltalamacchia enters 2013 with a lot to prove. The Red Sox are about ready to give prospect Ryan Lavarnway a shot, they signed David Ross over the offseason and Mike Napoli is also more than capable of catching.
Setting a career high with 25 home runs last season, Saltalamacchia will earn $2 million more than 2012, going from $2.5 million to $4.5 million by avoiding arbitration.
Andrew Miller, Relief Pitcher
Andrew Miller hopes to be one of the left-handers coming out of John Farrell’s bullpen in 2013.
Miller was one of the mainstays in Boston’s pen last season, throwing in 53 games and posting a 3.35 ERA in 40.1 innings. He also has the capability of spot-starting if the Red Sox need him to. Miller will make $1.475 million in 2013 compared to his 2012 salary of $1.04 million by avoiding arbitration.
Jacoby Ellsbury, Outfielder
Jacoby Ellsbury got a generous increase by avoiding arbitration with the Red Sox despite not doing much for them in 2012.
Ellsbury will make around $1 million more in 2013, as he’s scheduled to earn $9 million after avoiding arbitration. He played in just 74 games due to injury last season, hitting .271/.313/.682 with four home runs and 26 RBI after coming off of a second-place MVP finish in 2012.
Alfredo Aceves, Relief Pitcher
Alfredo Aceves stepped up in a big way when Andrew Bailey was unable to be Boston’s closer last season and ended up saving 25 games.
Aceves made $1.2 million last season and was highly awarded for his performances, avoiding arbitration and agreeing to a one-year deal worth $2.65 million. Aceves is a good guy to have in the bullpen, but I think that’s a big increase for a guy who had a 5.36 ERA in 55 games last year.
Joel Hanrahan, Relief Pitcher
2013 will be a coming-out party for Boston’s newest closer, Joel Hanrahan. Hanrahan was the closer of the Pittsburgh Pirates the past two seasons before being traded to the Red Sox this offseason.
Hanrahan has saved 76 games over the last two years and will earn considerably more money than he ever has before. Hanrahan agreed to a one-year deal worth $7.04 million for 2013 after making $4.1 million this past season.
Franklin Morales, Relief Pitcher
Franklin Morales did a great job in Boston’s bullpen and in the starting rotation last season. He’s probably one of the most valuable and reliable arms that the Red Sox have on their roster.
Morales made well under $1 million last season but will earn $1.487 million this upcoming season by agreeing to a one-year deal. Although he made a couple of starts in 2012, I wouldn’t expect to see him in the first inning very often in 2013. Boston needs to keep him pitching in the bullpen instead of flip-flopping him between starter and reliever.
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