BOSTON — The Boston Red Sox signed Jacoby Ellsbury, a 29-year-old outfielder from Madras, to a one-year contract on Friday, avoiding arbitration.
The oft-injured Ellsbury, a 2011 All-Star, saw a drop in his production last year, finishing with a .271 batting average, four home runs and 26 runs batted in. He will make $9 million, a year after making $8.05 million.
Ellsbury missed 79 games in 2012 after suffering a right shoulder subluxation on April 13. The former Oregon State star returned to the Boston lineup on July 13 and played in 67 games. In 2011 he was named American League Comeback Player of the Year after he established career highs in home runs (32), runs (119), hits (212) and RBIs (105). He was runner-up in voting that season for American League MVP.
—The Associated Press
