Boston ? All-Star closer Jonathan Papelbon and the Boston Red Sox agreed Tuesday to a $6.25 million, one-year contract that avoided salary arbitration.

Papelbon has emerged as one of baseball’s top closers, saving 41 games in 46 chances last year, when he earned $800,000. He has 113 saves in 128 chances and a 1.84 ERA in 31/2 seasons in Boston.