Red Sox sign David Ross

[jacksonianmarch]

2 yrs $6 mil. Good signing, IMO. Very solid backup catcher who will likely split time and make it easier to deal one of Lavs or Salty

[Palodios]

May this be the end of the Salty era in Boston.

 

In his three seasons with Boston, he has allowed 5.10 runs per game. That's unimaginable.

[Bellhorn04]

Salty is a backup catcher. He has a lot of pop from the left side so he should have a job for years to come.

[redsoxrules]

May this be the end of the Salty era in Boston.

 

In his three seasons with Boston, he has allowed 5.10 runs per game. That's unimaginable.

 

some of the pitchers has a lot to do with that

[Bellhorn04]

some of the pitchers has a lot to do with that

 

No question. But:

 

2011 Red Sox ERA with

Varitek 3.57

Salty 4.62

 

2012

Shoppach 3.77

Salty 4.84

 

Some stunning similarities there.

[wetcamelfood]

This proves they are going to try and rebuild in Boston (good luck with that, though I'm fine with it) yet the Globe is trying to get us to drink the kool aid on some of the "big but past it" names out there on the FA market now. I guess you kind of have to buy some of them to go through the process of being on the bottom for a feew years to build up real prospects (since we gave our farm system to SD for A-Gon)

[Elktonnick]

Salty is a journeyman catcher. His defensive skills are poor. One of the reasons for his higher than average ERA is IMO he drops a lot of foul tips that would be third strikes that other catchers get. He frames the ball poorly and is not good at giving targets. These were all pointed out by analysts other than Don and Jerry during the year. Lavarnway, Saltyand Ross wiill all be fighting for a job next year. My guess is that Salty will be trade bait.

[jung]

I would not be surprised to see the Sox do something with Salty before ST. What are they going to find out about him that they don't already know? He plays the position the way he plays the position. There are so many holes in his game that he looks like a fountain when he takes a drink of water.

 

His one saving grace is that he has power. K's like crazy but he does have power. Once he stopped trying to do everything at light speed (the sure sign of a lack of confidence) he developed a decent arm and actually started to throw some runners out. While I just don't see Salty developing more from here, I can see somebody wanting Salty to split time between doing some catching and being a DH batting down there around 6th or so...with the ability to clean the plate adding some pop from down there, 6th or 7th in the order. We just signed our DH to a two year deal.

 

I still contend that having a full time DH really does tie your hands. Ortiz is one of the few DH's that make it worthwhile but in truth, he has to be slotted into the DH role and everybody else must either play a position or sit...that is it.

[Orange Juiced]

I still contend that having a full time DH really does tie your hands. Ortiz is one of the few DH's that make it worthwhile but in truth, he has to be slotted into the DH role and everybody else must either play a position or sit...that is it.

 

I concur. I'd like to see their long-term philosophy vis-a-vis the DH is to just have more good baseball players on the team, and use the DH to exploit specific matchups/splits, and to give guys a kind of day of "rest". It also gives the team more flexibility when playing in NL parks.

[BSN07]

I like this move. They should sell high on Salty. His value probably won't get better.

[Elktonnick]

I think you guys are right on target with Salty. Sell before ST his value will never be higher

[mvp 78]

Salty is a backup catcher. He has a lot of pop from the left side so he should have a job for years to come.

 

He should go find a 1b mitt.

[SoxFanForsyth]

No thanks for Salty at 1B. Can't have a sub-.300 OBP guy at a primo hitters position.

 

Lauber mentioned that the Sox could deal Salty for either Niese of the Mets or Gavin Floyd of the ChiSox. I would think the Sox would have to give up more than Salty for Floyd.

 

Floyd had a 4.29 ERA last year, 4.46 ERA overall.

 

I'd much rather have Niese, though. 3.40 ERA last year, threw 190 innings, and is going to be only 27 heading into next season. He's also signed through 2016 with a remaining $24mm on his deal, and two options after that for $10mm and $11mm. Solid pitcher under a cheap contract through 2018. Yes, please.

[rjortiz]

That would be a major steal if they wanted just Salty for Niese.

[jung]

I think it would take more than Salty in either case but I commend whomever in the FO is talkin' like that. No sense in negotiating from a weak position.

[example1]

With Salty in his last year of arbitration and Lavarnway showing as much if not more promise with virtually no cost at all, it seems like a no-brainer to move Salty.

[Behindenemylines]

The Ross signing allows the Sox to move a catcher for another piece (Salty most likely). There are a lot of teams in need of a catcher and now the Sox have a trading chip. Ross is a quality backup catcher and will be a positive influence in the club house.

[jung]

Wouldn't it drive you nuts if that guy Crhis McGuiness that went to Texas as part of the Salty trade came up and turned out to be a decent ML 1st baseman for Texas? ....Salty....another one of Theo's coveted guys.

[Behindenemylines]

Cubs need a catcher and could be a potential trading partner.

[reYoukilis]

With Ross being a righty, wouldnt it make sense to keep Salty as a lefty? Maybe keep all three for the time being and have Lavarnway get better in the minors.

[mvp 78]

With Ross being a righty, wouldnt it make sense to keep Salty as a lefty? Maybe keep all three for the time being and have Lavarnway get better in the minors.

 

Ross hits RHP better than LHP.

 

Lavarnway needs to learn how to pitch MLB pitchinf. At this point, stashing him in AAA would be a waste.

[jung]

There is some demand for Catchers this year. Heck there is demand for catchers every year cause there is so few good ones out there. However this year there seems to be even more interest in catchers.

 

Ya' want your kid to be an MLB player? Teach him to get into a crouch before you teach him to walk...probably your best shot.

 

Anyway, it makes more sense to shop Salty this year. They could really get max value for him if they do this right.

[mvp 78]

Max value would have been trading him in June.

[jung]

But that would have left the Sox with Shop and Lavs....clearly as it turns out they did not want Shop so trying to off Salty in June was simply outside the realm of possibility. Shopping Salty before ST this year will likely yield the best result they can expect for him. Besides I would be more comfortable leaving the catching duties to Ross and Lavs than leaving them to Shop and Lavs.

[SoxFanForsyth]

There is some demand for Catchers this year. Heck there is demand for catchers every year cause there is so few good ones out there. However this year there seems to be even more interest in catchers.

 

Ya' want your kid to be an MLB player? Teach him to get into a crouch before you teach him to walk...probably your best shot.

 

Anyway, it makes more sense to shop Salty this year. They could really get max value for him if they do this right.

 

Not if he's a lefty.

 

If he can throw left handed, he can be a LOOGY until he's 45.

[SoxSport]

Looks like the Ross deal was an effort to improve the pitching. If so, it means Salty will be traded.

Ross must have had some assurance he was more than a backup to leave the Braves, where he was blocked by McCann. He figures to do a lot of catching in Boston.

[reYoukilis]

Ross hits RHP better than LHP.

 

Lavarnway needs to learn how to pitch MLB pitchinf. At this point, stashing him in AAA would be a waste.

 

That info about Ross concerning LH/RH puts a kibosh on my thinking about keeping Salty so I guess it makes sense to trade him now.

[SCM33]

some of the pitchers has a lot to do with that

LOL, Not really.....Salty is an awful defensive catcher who made EVERYONE worse.

 

He should go find a 1b mitt.

No, He is an awful choice at 1B. He may get away with his numbers at C, but he is an awful choice at 1B with those numbers.

 

 

Ive wanted 2 players gone in the last 2 years more than anything else........Salty and Beckett. Lets see where we are once they are gone. PLEASE PLEASE PLEASE...........

[BSN07]

IMO Salty gets traded and Ross/Lavs split time this season in an effort to get Lavs comfortable at the ML level.

 

I'm interested to see what the Sox can get for him. He hit 25 HR last season. Catchers tend to develop late. So his arrow could be pointing up enough to get a team to bite.

[jacksonianmarch]

We shall see. He's a horrible defensive catcher and aside from power, he offers little offensively. If they can get anything of use for him, them they have to move him. I think the writing is on the wall that they wants Lavs to take over, so it's pretty apparent that he's not in their plans