Sox scouting Jarrod Saltalamacchia

by Randy Booth on Dec 24, 2008 4:34 PM EST in News

According to Nick Cafardo, Sox special assistant Allan Baird has been watching Jarrod Saltalamacchia in the Dominican:

First priority remains a catcher. They have been in a wait-and-see mode with this, but the Teixeira signing might escalate things. Will offense be more of a priority in a catcher now? If so, Miguel Montero of Arizona might be more of a target, or Jarrod Saltalamacchia, who played winter ball in the Dominican for a few weeks but has returned home.

According to major league sources, Sox special assistant Allard Baird unfortunately watched Saltalamacchia on his worst defensive night in winter ball, though other scouts who watched him regularly thought he was fine behind the plate. He's certainly a player with the potential to hit for power.

Finally, focus has shifted. I think this is a good step after what happened yesterday. Saltalamacchia has been killing the Dominican Winter League as of late, but of course I can't find any recent stats to back that up.

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Salty has hit well in the Dominican: .364 AVG/.506 OBP/.848 SLG. I’m not sure what that means exactly. Sox’ prospect George Kottaras has also hit well: .308 AVG/.419 OBP/.462 SLG.

Kottaras, a left-handed hitter, might be an interesting platoon partner with Tek, as the latter is a much better right-handed hitter. If Kottaras can play, he won’t cost us any prospects.

I gotta go 'cause I'm probably definitely gonna nod out again.

by Drugs Delaney on Dec 24, 2008 5:29 PM EST reply actions

Kottaras OBPed .348 in AAA this season

We could platoon him and Dusty Brown for the ML club, but I wouldn’t rely on any of them.

Mother---- him and John Wayne!

by MerryGoByeBye on Dec 24, 2008 6:19 PM EST up reply actions

Brown had better Triple-A numbers

But Kottaras has been much better in the Dominican, for what that’s worth. Both may be an offensive upgrade over Cash. Brown is supposedly a very good defensive catcher. Kottaras, by all accounts, is shaky.

Catcher doesn’t look good for the Sox right now.

I gotta go 'cause I'm probably definitely gonna nod out again.

by Drugs Delaney on Dec 24, 2008 6:27 PM EST up reply actions

Yeah

I’m tired of the Sox dealing with Boras, so I’m not sure I want Tek to be back. We could trade a guy like Masterson for a ‘okay’ catcher, like one of those 2 from Zona. Not sure if that would do it, but it’s better than nothing.

All options are better than Kevin Cash starting full time.

Mother---- him and John Wayne!

by MerryGoByeBye on Dec 24, 2008 6:40 PM EST up reply actions

True about Boras, but he’s getting desperate with Tek still on his hands. I’m pretty sure he’ll be back.

OverTheMonster.com

by Randy Booth on Dec 24, 2008 6:44 PM EST up reply actions

Cash

Cash plays for the Yankees now so I doubt that will happen.

by Gnick on Dec 24, 2008 8:37 PM EST up reply actions

Even amongst catching possibilities...

wasn’t Salty sort of an Option B?

"and THAT happened" -John Mayer announcing Pedrioa at-bat in Tokyo

by DJDP23 on Dec 24, 2008 6:53 PM EST reply actions

Depends who you’re asking. Personally, I’d like to see Salty as our catcher. Some would prefer Teagarden or Brian Anderson….

OverTheMonster.com

by Randy Booth on Dec 24, 2008 7:02 PM EST up reply actions

Remember

Teagarden is also a Boras client.

by 3bagbeast on Dec 24, 2008 7:50 PM EST up reply actions

I think

Salty is better offensively, while Teagarden is more of a well-rounded player. Some say salty projects as more of a 1B, but I wouldn’t mind at all if he caught most of our games next year.

by Schulz on Dec 25, 2008 1:00 PM EST up reply actions

some comments from a Ranger fan

TT being a Boras client doesn’t really matter now.

Saltalamacchia’s DWL stats matter in that they show he is healthy and they are good stats.

Who is Brian Anderson?

Who would Sox fans prefer? Teagarden, Salty, Montero or Anderson?

Mitch Moreland - Rangers 2009 Minor League Player of the Year

by RangerMad on Dec 24, 2008 8:20 PM EST reply actions

I personally like Salty, and I think the majority of OTM readers would as well (there was a poll conducted recently).

OverTheMonster.com

by Randy Booth on Dec 24, 2008 8:54 PM EST up reply actions

Eh, je prefere le Teagarden.

/my parents are mad that I didn’t study for my French exam, nevermind that I still got an A

Clutch: A measurement of how much better or worse a player does in high leverage situations than he would have done in a context neutral environment. http://www.fangraphs.com/blogs/index.php/glossary/

by bdalebs on Dec 27, 2008 1:35 AM EST up reply actions

personal prefs:
Teagarden to me seems to be the most solid prospect with clearly strong defensive skills and some offensive upside. Montero seems superfically interesting, but I would need to look more. Salty has a nice name, and potential as a hitter. I would be surprised if he stuck as a catcher. From what I have seen he can’t throw and seems to have bad balance/footwork. His hitting potential is not good for a 1b and we don’t need one, so not so interested. Anderson, not really.

by Buzzy on Dec 24, 2008 9:15 PM EST up reply actions

+1

I gotta go 'cause I'm probably definitely gonna nod out again.

by Drugs Delaney on Dec 24, 2008 11:05 PM EST up reply actions

Salty is also young, and could learn how to play better defense at catcher

I mean, the last time I heard this ‘he might not stick at…’ was on Hanley, who wouldn’t stick at SS. He was a +3 defender this last season, which is not great but shows he’s ‘getting it’.

Mother---- him and John Wayne!

by MerryGoByeBye on Dec 24, 2008 11:39 PM EST up reply actions

Unless the guy we get is definitely going to be the backup

I don’t like the idea of a guy learning on the job, while carrying a reputation of not being an acceptable catcher defensively. It’s why I prefer Anderson, Teagarden, or Montero/Snyder if they’re available too. Anderson and Teagarden have better defensive reps, while Montero/Snyder wouldn’t really be learning more than fine-tuning on the job.

"Are you a real doctor, or a doctor like Dr. Pepper is a doctor?"

by Allen Chace on Dec 25, 2008 4:51 AM EST up reply actions

I really don't think Anderson and Teagarden are available

Could be wrong about that one. Snyder is also not in the market, which leaves us Salty and Montero. If we could get Montero not giving up on Bowden, I’d do that. If not, I would try to work a trade with Texas for Salty that wasn’t around Buchholz.

Mother---- him and John Wayne!

by MerryGoByeBye on Dec 25, 2008 10:52 AM EST up reply actions

Boras

It doesn’t matter that he’s a Boras client right now, but if he is indeed the catcher of the future, we would need to extend his contract- something Boras typically doesn’t do with his clients.

by Schulz on Dec 25, 2008 1:02 PM EST up reply actions

im not sure its that big of an issue

hes under team control through 2013 or thereabouts and that is plenty of time to win a few more championships with the young core of talent the Sox have. And if he still figures in the teams plans once he hits free agency, the money will be there to make him an offer. Its not like Theo hasnt signed or even resigned Boras FAs in the past.

Never rule out Jim Bowden.
That guy is effing crazy.

by Smoakin in the Boys Room on Dec 28, 2008 10:43 PM EST up reply actions