FORT MYERS, Fla. — This may be the last time you see the name of Rolando Arrojo in these pages for a while.
A righthanded pitcher, Arrojo had a five-year career in the majors. In 2002, while a member of the Red Sox, he went to salary arbitration and lost.
For a stretch of 14 years after that, the Red Sox settled with every one of their arbitration-eligible players. Whenever a case came within a few days of a hearing, beat writers would dutifully remind readers that the Sox had not gone to arbitration since Arroyo.
Now that distinction, if indeed that’s what it is, belongs to Fernando Abad.
Abad sought $2.7 million via arbitration, with the Red Sox offering $2 million. Rather than settle in the middle, both sides dug in and a hearing was held on Jan. 30. A three-person panel heard each side and rendered its decision a day later.
The Sox won and saved a bit of money. But Abad did get a healthy raise from the $1.25 million he made in 2016. The Sox also showed other agents that they were prepared to go to arbitration and wouldn’t automatically make a deal.
“No hard feelings. It was just business,’’ said Abad, who attended the hearing. “I understood that.’’
Sox manager John Farrell was pleased to have retained Abad. He believes the lefthander will be a valuable member of the bullpen.
“You grade out the raw ability and there’s arm strength and three pitches for strikes,’’ Farrell said. “It’s a matter of consistency.’’
Abad throws two changeups, one at 78 miles per hour and another that drops to 68. Farrell said the Sox want to “minimize exposure to the slow one.’’ That’s a polite way of saying he should stop throwing it.
The Red Sox acquired Abad from the Minnesota Twins on Aug. 1. The 31-year-old joined team in Seattle and the next night allowed a game-winning three-run homer by Robinson Cano.
Cano had been 1 for 11 against Abad and fell behind, 0 and 2, in the count before sending a curveball into the right-field seats.
Facing the Yankees on Aug. 10, Abad allowed back-to-back singles and two runs scored in a loss. By the end of the season, the Sox decided not to keep him on their postseason roster.
But they did tender him a contract in December.
“Lefthanded pitching is not an easy commodity to acquire,’’ Farrell said. “He’s healthy and he has quality stuff.’’
Lefthanded hitters were 3 for 23 (.130) against Abad after the Sox picked him up. If he is used as a lefthanded specialist, Abad could be an important part of the bullpen.
“I think sometimes I tried too hard,’’ he said. “It was a pennant race and I wanted to be perfect. Now, being back, I know I can pitch better.’’
Abad has been with five teams in seven seasons. He appreciates the opportunity in Boston.
“I played with David [Ortiz] last season and that was great. I love the crowds in Boston. It’s a great team,’’ Abad said. “I know this season will be a better one for me.’’
Velazquez acquired
Hector Velazquez, a 28-year-old righthander, was purchased from Campeche of the Mexican League. He has a minor league contract and was invited to major league spring training.
Velazquez has played seven seasons in Mexico and is a regular in the nation’s winter league, as well. All told, he is 61-48 with a 4.01 earned run average in 223 games, 181 of them starts.
While on loan from Campeche, Velazquez was 5-1 with a 2.47 ERA in 22 starts for Monclova last season.
Early call for Panda
Pablo Sandoval worked up a good sweat before 8 a.m. He was outside the weight room at JetBlue Park doing flexibility and agility drills with a trainer . . . The players spent 30 minutes in a “media training’’ meeting before the workout. The team brings in a Cleveland-based consultant, Lisa Levine, for the session . . . Dustin Pedroia had plenty of fans at the workout. His wife, Kelli, was on hand along with sons Dylan (7), Cole (4), and Brooks (2). The boys all wore Pedroia jerseys and Dylan brought along a bat bag. He also helped clean his dad’s cleats after the workout.
Peter Abraham can be reached at pabraham@globe.com. Follow him on Twitter @PeteAbe.
