The Boston Red Sox today agreed to terms with right-handed pitcher Heath Hembree on a one-year contract for the 2019 season, thus avoiding salary arbitration.
President of Baseball Operations Dave Dombrowski made the announcement.
Hembree, 29, has made more than 60 appearances and thrown at least 60.0 innings for the Red Sox in each of the last two seasons. In 2018, the right-hander averaged 11.40 strikeouts per 9.0 innings (76 SO/60.0 IP) and held opponents to a .233 batting average, both career bests for a full season. He held left-handed hitters to a career-low .186 average, surrendering only one home run to his 105 lefties faced in the regular season. Hembree pitched in each of the Red Sox' three postseason series and did not allow a hit or a run in any of his four outings (4.2 IP). Originally signed by San Francisco in the 2010 June Draft, the South Carolina native was traded to Boston in July 2014. In 204 career major league appearances-all in relief-he has posted a 3.46 ERA (83 ER/216.0 IP) with 226 strikeouts.
With today's agreement, there are 10 remaining unsigned Red Sox players eligible for salary arbitration: Matt Barnes, Mookie Betts, Xander Bogaerts, Jackie Bradley Jr., Brock Holt, Sandy Leon, Eduardo Rodriguez, Blake Swihart, Brandon Workman, and Steven Wright.