BOSTON, Jan. 18 (UPI) -- The Boston Red Sox Friday avoided salary arbitration with outfielder Trot Nixon and reliever Ugueth Urbina, reaching agreement with both on one-year contracts.
Financial terms were not disclosed.
Nixon, 27, established career highs with 27 homers, 88 RBI and 100 runs scored last season. He batted .280 in 148 games and ranked second on the team with 30 game-tying or go-ahead RBI.
The lefthanded hitting outfielder showed his versatility in the field, playing 70 games in center and 83 games in right. He will likely start in right field in 2002 with free agent signee Johnny Damon moving in at center and Manny Ramirez in left.
Urbina, 27, was acquired by the Red Sox from the Montreal Expos in a July 31 trade deadline deal. The New York Yankees also tried to make a deal for Urbina, but concerns over the pitcher's elbow problems caused the Yanks to back off.
Urbina showed no ill effects with the Red Sox, supplanting Derek Lowe as the team's closer and posting a 2.25 ERA with nine saves in 19 appearances. He held righthanders to a .135 batting average, struck out 32 in 20 innings and walked just three of the 77 batters he faced.
Overall in 2001, Urbina was 2-2 with a 3.65 ERA and 24 saves.
Urbina averaged 27 saves over the last five seasons.
