BOSTON — Mark Kotsay and the Boston Red Sox agreed to a one-year contract Thursday.

The 33-year-old Kotsay batted .276 last season, including .226 with 12 RBIs in 22 games for the Red Sox after he was acquired from Atlanta on Aug. 27. Kotsay played in 10 of Boston's 11 postseason games, batting .250 and scoring the tying run in the Game 5 comeback against Tampa Bay during the AL championship series.

An outfielder most of his career, Kotsay did a nice job defensively while filling in at first base for Boston.

To make room for him on the 40-man roster, the Red Sox designated right-hander David Aardsma for assignment. Boston also shipped minor league outfielder Mickey Hall to Cleveland to complete the trade that sent pitcher Paul Byrd to Boston in August.

Hall batted .232 with 13 homers and 35 RBIs in 82 games last season for Boston's Double-A Portland affiliate. The 24-year-old was a second-round pick in 2003 by the Red Sox and has a .239 career batting average in the minors.