The Red Sox declined to tender contracts to outfielder Ryan Sweeney and pitchers Scott Atchison and Rich Hill, the club announced.
Sweeney, 27, jumped out to a hot start with the Red Sox, hitting .373/.394/.567 in April, but he couldn't sustain it. He hit just .204/.259/.277 from May through July and then missed the rest of the season with a broken finger. Recovery from the injury may give optimism for a rebound, but Sweeney was likely due $2 million guaranteed in arbitration -- too rich with Jonny Gomes already in tow as a reserve outfielder.
Atchison, 36, posted a career year for Boston. He allowed just a 1.58 ERA in 51.1 innings, including a 4.0 K/BB and a 0.99 WHIP. However, Atchison missed 60 days with a UCL injury and the Red Sox could fear the injury risk given his advanced age. Still, the risk didn't appear too large -- Atchison was arbitration-eligible for just the first time and as such was likely to earn under $2 million if tendered a contract.
Hill, 32, posted a 1.83 ERA in 19 2/3 innings but missed 84 days with a flexor strain in his forearm. The lefty owns just a 4.59 career ERA and will likely have to take a minor league contract this offseason.
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