Red Sox sign Aceves

THE ASSOCIATED PRESS

BOSTON -- Right-hander Alfredo Aceves and the Boston Red Sox have agreed to a US$1.2 million, one-year contract that avoided salary arbitration.

The agreement was $75,000 below the midpoint between the $1.6 million he had asked for in arbitration last month and the $950,000 he had been offered. Aceves can earn a maximum of $100,000 in performance bonuses: $25,000 each for five, 10, 15 and 25 starts, or $25,000 each for 55, 60, 65 and 70 relief appearances.

A 30-year-old right-hander, Aceves was 10-2 with a 2.61 earned-run average and two saves in 51 relief appearances and four starts last season, when he made $750,000.

The agreement was announced Sunday.

Designated hitter David Ortiz is Boston's last remaining player in arbitration.