The Red Sox went to salary arbitration with a player yesterday for the first time under the current ownership, a 15-year span. The ballclub and Fernando Abad are putting the left-handed reliever’s 2017 salary in the hands of a third party unless the sides settle on a deal before a decision is made, which is expected today.
Abad made $1.3 million last season and would like to more than double his salary to $2.7 million. The Sox suggested a more modest raise to $2 million.
After being traded to the Red Sox on Aug. 1 from the Twins for pitcher Pat Light, Abad was not nearly as effective as he had been for Minnesota.