Koji Uehara Back For Two More Years

The Boston Red Sox have signed closer Koji Uehara for two more years.

The All-Star reliever will earn $18 million through 2016.

Uehara joined the Red Sox in 2013 and earned the closer's role midway through the season. He was a key part of the team that won the franchise's third World Series in 10 years, striking out Matt Carpenter for the final out in Game 6 on this date last year.

He reached the All-Star game last year but struggled at times. He finished with a 6-5 record and an ERA of 2.52 that was more than twice the previous season's.

He will turn 40 before opening day.