Wright, Red Sox agree to 1-year deal
BOSTON -- With the deadline looming at the end of this week for teams to exchange figures with arbitration-eligible players, the Red Sox announced one-year, non-guaranteed contracts with right-handers Carson Smith and Steven Wright on Monday.
Smith, who made a strong return from Tommy John surgery late last season, allowing one run in eight regular-season outings, will earn $850,000 in 2018.
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Knuckleballer Wright missed most of 2017 due to left knee surgery but is expected to be a full go by Spring Training. His one-year deal is for $1.1 million.
Wright was a second-round Draft pick of the Indians in 2006 and was traded to the Red Sox at the '12 non-waiver Trade Deadline in exchange for first baseman Lars Anderson. The 33-year-old has pitched all of his five big league seasons in Boston, debuting with the '13 World Series champion club.
Wright enjoyed his best year in 2016, going 13-6 with 3.33 ERA. He also earned his first All-Star Game selection. Last season, Wright made just five starts, posting an 8.25 ERA before an injury to the cartilage in his left knee forced him to undergo season-ending surgery. Wright earned $593,500 last season.
The Red Sox acquired Smith from the Mariners in December 2015 with the idea he could emerge as their primary setup man. But the sidewinder missed the majority of the '16 season, making just three Major League appearances before undergoing surgery on May 24.
In 90 Major League outings since being selected by the Mariners in the eighth round of the 2011 Draft, Smith is 3-5 with a 1.95 ERA, 14 saves, a 1.00 WHIP and 11.4 strikeouts per nine innings pitched.
There are 10 remaining unsigned Red Sox players eligible for salary arbitration: infielder Brock Holt, shortstop Xander Bogaerts, catchers Sandy Leon and Christian Vazquez, outfielders Mookie Betts and Jackie Bradley Jr., and pitchers Joe Kelly, Thomas Pomeranz, Eduardo Rodriguez, and Brandon Workman.
The deadline for teams and players to exchange arbitration figures is Friday.