The Boston Red Sox have avoided salary arbitration with Matt Albers as they’ve signed him to a one-year deal. They have also non-tendered Rich Hill. And as expected the Red Sox tendered contracts to Alfredo Aceves, Daniel Bard, Franklin Morales, Mike Aviles, Jacoby Ellsbury, Jed Lowrie and Jarrod Saltalamacchia.

Boston Red SoxI fully expect that Hill will be given a minor league deal by the Red Sox in the not so distant future.

Here’s the release from the Red Sox with the details:

BOSTON — The Boston Red Sox today signed right-handed pitcher Matt Albers to a one-year contract for the 2012 season, thus avoiding salary arbitration.  Terms were not disclosed.

The club also announced that it will not tender a 2012 contract to left-handed pitcher Rich Hill.  As a result, Hill will become a free agent.  The Red Sox tendered 2012 contracts to the other 23 unsigned players on their Major League roster.  Boston’s 40-man roster is now at 38.

The announcements were made by executive vice president/general manager Ben Cherington.

The 28-year-old Albers appeared in 56 games last season, all in relief, posting a 4-4 record with a 4.73 ERA (34 ER/64 2/3 IP) and 68 strikeouts in his first year with Boston.  He averaged a career-high 9.46 strikeouts per nine innings, the 15th-highest mark among qualifying American League relievers.  Albers has appeared in 237 Major League games (23 starts) over parts of six seasons with the Astros (2006-07), Orioles (2008-10) and Red Sox (2011) and is 19-29 with a 5.04 ERA (214 ER/382 IP) and 274 strikeouts in his big league career.

Hill, 31, threw eight scoreless innings over nine appearances out of the bullpen for Boston in 2011 before undergoing season-ending Tommy John surgery on June 9.  The native of Milton, Mass. also pitched with Triple-A Pawtucket last season, going 1-0 with one save, a 1.13 ERA (2 ER/16 IP) and 18 strikeouts.  In 93 career Major League appearances (70 starts) between the Cubs (2005-08), Orioles (2009) and Red Sox (2010-11), Hill owns a 22-20 record with a 4.73 ERA (214 ER/407 1/3 IP) and 370 strikeouts.

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