After the best season of his career, Red Sox left-hander Drew Pomeranz has nearly doubled his salary.
Pomeranz, who went 17-6 with a 3.32 ERA last season and firmly established himself in the starting rotation, avoided arbitration and agreed to a one-year, $8.5 million contract.
Pomeranz made $4.45 million last season. Fellow Sox left-hander Eduardo Rodriguez agreed to a one-year, $2.375 million deal to avoid arbitration. Rodriguez, who turns 25 in April, went 6-7 with a 4.19 ERA in 24 starts last season when he was again bothered by a knee injury.
Pomeranz, 29, acquired at the trade deadline from the San Diego Padres in 2016, and Rodriguez were two of nine Red Sox agreeing to one-year deals and avoiding arbitration hearings Friday. Right fielder Mookie Betts, 25, who made $950,000 last season (.264, 24 homers, 102 RBI, 25 stolen bases, .803 OPS), was the only arbitration-eligible Red Sox player who didn't come to an agreement.