Daniel Nava once again will have the chance to compete for a spot in the Boston Red Sox’s outfield.
Nava and the Red Sox avoided salary arbitration by agreeing to a one-year, non-guaranteed contract Thursday. CBS Sports’ Jon Heyman reported that Nava’s deal is worth $1.85 million, quite the far cry from the $1 Boston signed him for in 2008.
The 31-year-old outfielder has had an up-and-down tenure with the Red Sox since then. He made his impact felt immediately by hitting a grand slam in his first major league at-bat in 2010, but he has bounced back and forth between Boston and Triple-A Pawtucket over the last several years.
Nava posted a career-best .303 batting average during the Red Sox’s World Series championship campaign in 2013, but he struggled early in 2014 before being demoted to Triple-A on June 1. He’ll have his work cut out for him in 2015, as he must compete with the likes of Hanley Ramirez, Rusney Castillo, Mookie Betts, Shane Victorino, Jackie Bradley Jr. and Allen Craig for playing time.
With Nava officially in the fold, newly acquired pitcher Wade Miley is the only unsigned Red Sox player eligible for salary arbitration.
Thumbnail photo via Charles LeClaire/USA TODAY Sports Images
