Howell, Rays avoid arbitration with 1-year deal

J.P. Howell has agreed to a $1.35 million, one-year contract with the Tampa Bay Rays, avoiding arbitration.

The left-hander went 2-3 with a 6.16 ERA in 46 appearances last season, when he returned from left shoulder surgery that sidelined him all of the previous year.

The 28-year-old Howell had a $1.1 million base salary in 2011 and earned an additional $175,000 in performance bonuses based on innings.

The deal reached Monday leaves the Rays with four players eligible for arbitration - center fielder B.J. Upton and pitchers David Price, Jeff Niemann and Burke Badenhop.