Papelbon agrees to $6.25M deal with Red Sox

[January 21, 2009]  BOSTON (AP) -- Closer Jonathan Papelbon and the Boston Red Sox have agreed to a $6.25 million, one-year contract that avoided salary arbitration. Left-hander Javier Lopez agreed to a one-year deal worth $1.35 million.

Boston has not gone to arbitration since Theo Epstein became general manager.

Papelbon has emerged as one of the top closers in the game, saving 41 games in 46 chances last year, when he earned $800,000. He has 113 saves in 128 chances and a 1.84 ERA in 3 1/2 seasons in Boston.

[Associated Press]

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