"The Red Sox have avoided arbitration with closer Jonathan Papelbon and center fielder Jacoby Ellsbury, agreeing to one-year deals with both and maintaining GM Theo Epstein's streak of settling before the cases are heard, according to a source with knowledge of the deals.

Papelbon will receive $12 million, while Ellsbury will earn $2. 4 million. They earned $9.35 million and $496,500 last year, respectively.

The story was first reported by CSNNE.com.

The Red Sox have not had an arbitration case heard since Epstein became GM. That streak lives thanks to deals in line with what each player was expected to make, despite down years for each."