David Ortiz, Boston Red Sox Avoid Arbitration

The Boston Red Sox and designated hitter David Ortiz have come to an agreement today to avoid arbitration, according to Buster Olney from ESPN. The deal is a one year agreement worth $14.75 million, the middle ground for what the two sides were fighting for.

It was just hours before the two would have to go in front of a judge when this was announced. Since Theo Epstein came to Boston, and has since left, the Red Sox have never gone to arbitration. David Ortiz had been looking for over $16 million, while the Red Sox offered $12 million, his salary from last season.

The Red Sox have not wanted to spend this offseason, even executing a pure salary dump when they traded starting shortstop Marco Scutaro to the Colorado Rockies for nearly nothing in return. The Red Sox are still a favorite for Roy Oswalt, however, so we'll see how this affects that.