BOSTON, MA—The Boston Red Sox have agreed to terms with five players on one-year contracts for the 2023 season, thus avoiding salary arbitration: Christian Arroyo, Ryan Brasier, Reese McGuire, Nick Pivetta, and Alex Verdugo.
Chief Baseball Officer Chaim Bloom made the announcement.
The Red Sox have no remaining players eligible for salary arbitration.
Arroyo, 27, batted a career-best .286 (80-for-280) last season, setting career highs in games (87), plate appearances (300), runs (32), hits, doubles (16), extra-base hits (23), RBI (36), and stolen bases (5). He made 40 starts at second base, 17 in right field, 14 at shortstop, 10 at third base, nine at first base, and five at designated hitter. From July 30 through the end of the season, the right-handed hitter’s .329 batting average (54-for-164) ranked seventh in the AL (min. 100 PA). Acquired by the Red Sox in August 2020, the Florida native has hit .255 (184-for-722) with 38 doubles and 21 home runs in 229 career games with San Francisco (2017), Tampa Bay (2018-19), Cleveland (2020), and Boston (2020-22).
Brasier, 35, led the Red Sox with a career-high 68 appearances last season, also setting career highs in innings (62.1) and strikeouts (64) while posting a 5.78 ERA (40 ER). The right-hander did not allow a run in 10 of his final 13 outings beginning September 2, posting a 2.25 ERA (3 ER/12.0 IP) during that span. Acquired by Boston in March 2018, the Texas native owns a 4.14 ERA (91 ER/197.2 IP) in 209 career outings (one start) with the Los Angeles Angels (2013) and Red Sox (2018-22).
McGuire, 27, played in a career-high 89 games with the Chicago White Sox and Red Sox last season, batting .269 (67-for-249) with 14 doubles, one triple, three home runs, and career bests in runs scored (25) and RBI (22). He tied for the AL lead and ranked tied for third in the majors in caught stealing percentage (33.3%), throwing out a career-high 16 runners attempting to steal. Acquired by Boston from the White Sox on August 1, the left-handed hitter led the Red Sox with a .337 batting average (34-for-151) from that date through the end of the season (min. 15 games). The Washington native has batted .256 (158-for-616) with 39 doubles, 12 home runs, and 48 RBI in 230 career games with the Toronto Blue Jays (2018-21), White Sox (2022), and Red Sox (2022).
Pivetta, 29, tied for the lead among Major League pitchers in starts last season (33), going 10-12 with a 4.56 ERA (91 ER/179.2 IP). The right-hander set career highs in wins, starts, and innings pitched, leading the Red Sox in each category as well as in strikeouts (175). The Canada native has made at least 30 starts three times during his career, including each of the last two seasons. Acquired by Boston in August 2020, Pivetta is 40-50 with a 5.02 ERA (413 ER/741.0 IP) in 158 career appearances (136 starts) for the Philadelphia Phillies (2017-20) and Red Sox (2020-22).
Verdugo, 26, batted .280 (166-for-593) over a career-high and team-best 152 games played in 2022. The left-handed hitter also set career bests in hits, RBI (74), doubles (39), extra-base hits (51), and total bases (240). He ranked second among Major League outfielders in starts (149) and innings played (1,306.0), tying for the team lead with eight outfield assists. Acquired by Boston in February 2020, the Arizona native has batted .286 (510-for-1,781) with 115 doubles, five triples, 44 home runs, and 201 RBI in 509 games for the Los Angeles Dodgers (2017-19) and Red Sox (2020-22). Verdugo ranks tied for second in the American League and tied for fourth in the majors with 24 outfield assists since the beginning of 2020.
