Diamondbacks, Tony Sipp agree to new contract

The Arizona Diamondbacks have avoided arbitration with reliever Tony Sipp, agreeing to a one-year, $1.275 million contract with the southpaw, reports Craig Stephenson of GulfLive.com:

Moss Point native Tony Sipp has avoided salary arbitration with the Arizona Diamondbacks, agreeing Thursday to a one-year, $1.275 million contract with his new club, he told GulfLive.com.

Sipp, 29, joined the D'Backs last month as part of the three-team, nine-player trade with the Cleveland Indians and Cincinnati Reds. The left-hander amassed a 4.42 ERA and 8.3 K/9 rate in 55 innings of relief for the Indians in 2012, his fourth full season with the club.

Sipp does not have much of a platoon split over his career, so the D'Backs should be able to utilize the left-hander against batters on both sides of the plate without much concern.

The southpaw owns a 3.68 ERA and 9.2 K/9 rate in 220⅓ innings overall in his four years of big-league ball.