From Jon Heyman of MLB Network comes word that the Red Sox have avoided arbitration with reliever Junichi Tazawa by agreeing to a one-year, $3.375 million contract for 2016.
This was Tazawa’s final turn through the arbitration process. He can become a free agent leading into the 2017 season.
Tazawa faltered to the tune of a 4.14 ERA and 1.33 WHIP in 2015, but he put up a stellar 2.62 ERA and 1.135 WHIP in 175 1/3 innings between 2012-2014.
Boston is hoping that the offseason additions of Craig Kimbrel and Carson Smith will help Tazawa and fellow Japanese right-hander Koji Uehara avoid second-half fatigue in 2016. Tazawa made 71 appearances last year and 71 appearances the year before.
