BOSTON (AP) — The Boston Red Sox agreed to terms on Tuesday with outfielder Jacoby Ellsbury on a one-year, non-guaranteed contract worth $8.05 million, avoiding salary arbitration.

Ellsbury, who played in just 18 games in 2010, was named the American League Comeback Player of the Year in ’11 and finished second in AL MVP voting. He batted .321 with career highs of 46 doubles, 32 home runs, 119 runs, 105 RBIs and 52 walks in 158 games. He led the majors with 364 total bases and 83 extra-base hits.

“Happy to get a deal worked out!” Ellsbury wrote on Twitter. “Excited to get to Spring Training and help the (hash)RedSox get back on top!!”

Selected by the Red Sox in the 2005 first round, Ellsbury has a .301 career average, and made the All-Star team last season. Even as the Red Sox collapsed in September, going just 7-20 to finish one game behind the Tampa Bay Rays in the AL wild-card race, Ellsbury finished strong with a .358 average, eight homers and 21 RBIs over the month.

Infielder Mike Aviles also agreed to a one-year deal. Aviles, 30, was acquired by Boston from Kansas City on July 30, 2011 and hit .317 in 38 games. He played third base, shortstop, second base, right and left field.

The Red Sox, who never had an arbitration case during Theo Epstein’s tenure as general manager, have four potential arbitration cases remaining: David Ortiz, Daniel Bard, Alfredo Aceves and Andrew Bailey.

 


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