While Boston Red Sox GM Ben Cherington continues to shop in the bargain aisle for pitching, he’s also been busy trying to avoid arbitration with all of the arbitration-eligible players the team has.

Boston Red SoxAfter avoiding arbitration with Matt Albers, Andrew Miller, Jarrod Saltalamacchia and Ryan Sweeney, we can cross one more off the list.

Late Monday, the Red Sox avoid going to arbitration with Franklin Morales as they signed him to a one-year, $850,000 contract according to Peter Abraham of the Boston Globe.

Morales came over from the Colorado Rockies in a trade on May 19, 2011. He made 36 appearances for the Red Sox going 1-1 with a 3.62 ERA.

Cherington still has six contracts to go to avoid going to the arbitrator. They are Alfredo Aceves, Mike Aviles, Andrew Bailey, Daniel Bard, Jacoby Ellsbury, and David Ortiz. The two sides have until tonight to exchange salary figures.

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