Boston agree terms with Papelbon and Lopez

BOSTON (Reuters) - The Boston Red Sox have avoided salary arbitration with pitchers Jonathan Papelbon and Javier Lopez by agreeing to terms on one-year contracts, the team said on Tuesday.

Right-handed closer Papelbon went 5-4 with a 2.34 ERA for Boston in 2008, setting career highs of 67 appearances, 69.1 innings and 41 saves, the third best in the American League.

The 28-year-old, a three-time All-Star, is one of only four pitchers to record 30 or more saves in each of his first three full seasons in the majors.

Lopez, 31, tossed a career-high 59.1 innings on his way to a 2-0 record for Boston in 2008, finishing fourth in the AL among qualifying left-handed relievers with a 2.43 ERA.

Financial terms were not disclosed by Boston for either player.

The Red Sox, World Series champions in 2007, were beaten by the Tampa Bay Rays in the American League championship game last season.

(Reporting by Mark Lamport-Stokes in Los Angeles; Editing by John Mehaffey)