Red Sox acquire Jarrod Saltalamacchia

[jacksonianmarch]

Figured I'd create the thread away from the trade deadline

 

The sox didnt give up much. And if they can get his head screwed on straight and his health straightened out, then this could be a low risk high reward scenario for the sox.

[laxtonto]

Deal was for McGuiness, Menedez, a PTBNL and $350,000

[italstallianion]

Damn, I liked both McGuiness and Mendez, especially Mendez.

[soxfan74]

Not bad considering everyone was ready to give up Buchholtz for him last year. If we can Get Saltalamachia back on track this is a great deal.

[WhiskeyBreath]

Everyone who didn't know what f*** they were talking about was ready to give up Buchholz for him.

[Northern Star]

I already bought his jersey. Good that you don't have to pay by the letter for the name.

[CoachC.]

From Olney:

 

Heard this: The baseball world was well aware of Jarrod Saltalamacchia's yips on throws back to the mound, but scouts who saw him the last couple of weeks believe he found a comfortable way to return the ball to the pitcher, in flipping it. So the Red Sox are hopeful that he has put all that aside and can continue to develop into a valued player -- a switch-hitting catcher.

[Youk Of The Nation]

I bought his jersey too, TC. It came with a certificate of authenticity, free batting gloves, and a Mexican immigrant to follow me around holding a cardboard placard that reads 'acchia' just off of my right shoulder.

[CoachC.]

"I was pretty surprised when I heard," said Jarrod Saltalamacchia, while driving to his Dallas home. "I knew there was some trade buzz around me, but when 4 p.m. came along I thought 'Ok, didn't get traded.' And then I get called back in, I spoke to our general manager (Jon Daniels) and I was thrilled to be going to the Red Sox organization."

 

Saltalamacchia is no stranger to Boston rumors. He's heard them for years. He's a huge fan of Jason Varitek and has, for so long, wanted to hook up with Gary Tuck to work with him on defense. Saltalamacchia was once considered a big time prospect who was once traded for Mark Teixeira, but a combination of injuries and untapped potential has cost him some time. He came up with the yips in his throwing arm where he couldn't throw the ball back to the pitcher, but he's over that now.

 

"I see this as a new start for me," Salty said. "I wish I could have gone back up with the Rangers but they're in a pennant race and they didn't feel it was the time for me. So I accept that. I have a lot to prove to myself and to the Red Sox now. I'm just going to go down to Pawtucket, play as hard as I can and hope when there's a need to get to Boston and prove myself up there."

 

"I can't think about what plans the Red Sox have for me right now. I just need to play well and show them what I can do. I see this is a great opportunity for me to be with a great organization. I think it's going to be a positive step for my career."

 

http://www.boston.com/sports/baseball/redsox/extras/extra_bases/2010/07/salty_thrilled.html

[msubulldogs21]

I like this move. Didn't give up much and the thought of him fulfilling his potential is nice. Not certain by any means, but something to keep an eye on and hope for.

[CoachC.]

Can't wait to hear Remy pronounce Saltalamacchia ... Salter-le-macher?

[Keeper]

Maybe they can teach him how to throw the ball back to the pitcher. This guy is a bust.

[Red Foreman]

Everyone who didn't know what f*** they were talking about was ready to give up Buchholz for him.

 

Agree...

[Red Foreman]

From Olney:

 

I've heard all about throwing the ball back to the pitcher, any word on if throwing down to second is a similar problem?

[BOSOX11]

Is it "Major League 2" all over again?

[MDF3530]

Is it "Major League 2" all over again?

Matching crotchless panties are also available.

[example1]

Damn' date=' I liked both McGuiness and Mendez, especially Mendez.[/quote']

 

This was my initial sentiment too, but when I really think about it this is why they have depth beyond the first and second tier guys. McGuiness and Mendez? What percentage of Sox fans knows about these guys, and what percent is likely to ever know about them now that they are at TX? It is possible that one or both have a good MLB career, but they probably weren't going to do it on the Red Sox without a whole lot of other players failing.

 

I'm writing this as someone who looked at these guys long before this trade and thought they looked like good players. Mendez had the more obvious upside as a team can always use a guy who can hit 98 mph, but he's young and one-dimensional. McGuiness was old for his league and never cost the team much anyway ($100k or something).

Saltalamacchia was a top prospect two years ago and could benefit from a change of scenery. This team needs a catcher and Theo has long-coveted Salty. To get him for two non-essential prospects is the definition of buy-low, but I like it.

[jacksonianmarch]

I bought his jersey too' date=' TC. It came with a certificate of authenticity, free batting gloves, and a Mexican immigrant to follow me around holding a cardboard placard that reads 'acchia' just off of my right shoulder.[/quote']

 

f***ing hilarious LOL

[jacksonianmarch]

This was my initial sentiment too' date=' but when I really think about it this is why they have depth beyond the first and second tier guys. McGuiness and Mendez? What percentage of Sox fans knows about these guys, and what percent is likely to [i']ever[/i] know about them now that they are at TX? It is possible that one or both have a good MLB career, but they probably weren't going to do it on the Red Sox without a whole lot of other players failing.

 

I'm writing this as someone who looked at these guys long before this trade and thought they looked like good players. Mendez had the more obvious upside as a team can always use a guy who can hit 98 mph, but he's young and one-dimensional. McGuiness was old for his league and never cost the team much anyway ($100k or something).

Saltalamacchia was a top prospect two years ago and could benefit from a change of scenery. This team needs a catcher and Theo has long-coveted Salty. To get him for two non-essential prospects is the definition of buy-low, but I like it.

 

Like I said before, this is a good deal for both sides. The Rangers just decimated their farm system with Lee, Cantu and Guzman coming on board and needed to restock it somewhat and the sox had a black hole in their system at the catcher's position. Salty has a long way to go from present to ceiling, but if they can work hard with him and get him up to a .250 20HR 75RBI catcher, then they'd be thrilled

[msubulldogs21]

Can't wait to hear Remy pronounce Saltalamacchia ... Salter-le-macher?

 

I said this exact thing about a year ago.

 

Salta-la-mach-ier

[SoxSport]

Salty has an OPS of .971 his last 10 games in Ok City AAA. BA .250. That's good hitting for a catcher--back to where he was a couple of years ago before his injury.

 

Good pickup by Theo. He did enough at the trade deadline, with all the walking wounded coming back soon. As for the BP, less is more out there. More reliance on the starters, that is, who are getting 80% of the salary. It's time for Beckett et al to earn those millions. Besides, they have Doubront and Bowden from Pawtucket for the BP. Both as good, probably, as anybody available to trade for.

[SoxSport]

Isn't it Jarrod Salty? If not, it should be--forever.

[Dojji]

Is it "Major League 2" all over again?

 

Hope so. It's about time for Ricky Vaughn to put his glasses back on.

[Yaz Sideburn]

we have some crazy depth at catcher. mark wagner, luis exposito, dusty brown and tim federowicz were some of our better prospects going into the year. this year, lavarnway has emerged as a good catcher prospect and we've added cuban phenom adalberto ibarra and now saltalamacchia

[Dojji]

None of them but Saltalamacchia are guys who could potentially start next year though. Possibly Ibarra, but I'd rather get him a year in the minors. He's very raw behind the plate.

[Yaz Sideburn]

None of them but Saltalamacchia are guys who could potentially start next year though. Possibly Ibarra' date=' but I'd rather get him a year in the minors. He's very raw behind the plate.[/quote']

 

i doubt the red sox will get their starting catcher next year internally anyways

[Dojji]

Odd, because it seems to me they already have. I don't think there's any real possibility that Saltalamacchia was brought in to rot in AAA. Theo loves the guy. I think there's a distinct possibility that BOTH of our catchers next year are in AAA right now.

[Yaz Sideburn]

Odd' date=' because it seems to me they already have. I don't think there's any real possibility that Saltalamacchia was brought in to rot in AAA. Theo loves the guy. I think there's a distinct possibility that BOTH of our catchers next year are in AAA right now.[/quote']

 

let's not get ahead of ourselves. they traded for a guy struggling to hit in the minors, they didn't announce him as their starting catcher for next year

[jacksonianmarch]

YS, Dojji very well may be right. My guess is that the sox envision VMart as a 1b and Youk as a 3b for next yr, and Salty would slot into the 8th hole in the order as the starting C

[Yaz Sideburn]

YS' date=' Dojji very well may be right. My guess is that the sox envision VMart as a 1b and Youk as a 3b for next yr, and Salty would slot into the 8th hole in the order as the starting C[/quote']

 

the only thing less likely than salty being our starting catcher going into next year is v-mart being our starting 1b