Baseball: Red Sox, LHP Okajima agree to $2.75M, 1-year deal

BOSTON - Hideki Okajima and the Boston Red Sox have avoided arbitration by agreeing to a $2.75 million, one-year contract.

The left-handed reliever was 6-0 with a 3.39 ERA last year, his third with Boston after coming to the major leagues from Japan. In all, he is 12-4 with six saves and a 2.72 ERA.

The team announced the deal on Thursday.

Okajima is the third left-hander in baseball history to make at least 60 appearances in each of his first three seasons.

He could earn another $200,000 in performance bonuses: $50,000 each for pitching in 55, 60, 65 and 70 games.

The deal is not guaranteed, meaning the Red Sox could release Okajima in spring training and give him either 30 or 45 days' termination pay, depending on the timing.