Tiger's to sign Saltalamacchia

[gotime909]

For backup catcher. Sound like major league minimum.

 

[manchild98]

It is being reported that the Detroit Tigers have come to terms with C Jarrod Saltalamacchia on a one year deal. According to GM Al Avila, the deal is worth near the MLB minimum salary of $500,000.

Last season in 79 games split between Arizona and Miami, Saltalamacchia hit .225 with 9 HR and 24 RBI. He is expected to compete for the backup catcher's job.

 

[Mitchrapp]

Is there a short nickname we can give him because I don't want to type Saltalamacchia all too often.

 

[biggunsbob]

Here are his stats.

http://www.baseball-reference.com/players/s/saltaja01.shtml

 

[Mitchrapp]

Salty. Makes sense. He's a switch hitter so maybe he bats vs RHP with McCann against left? Hopefully, he calls a good game.

 

[Thundercats]

Salty. Makes sense. He's a switch hitter so maybe he bats vs RHP with McCann against left? Hopefully, he calls a good game.

He's had success with Boston's pitchers before. Offensively, he's a lot like Avila but I guess with more consistent contact. He was very productive in Boston. I think a lot of his issues in Miami maybe had to do with the ballpark, because he went to Arizona and found his swing again.

 

[manchild98]

Salty. Salty Balls if he ends up sucking.

 

[kalinecountry]

His defensive reputation is not as sterling.
Saltalamacchia has ranked as a below average pitch framer in each of the past three seasons, and he has only thrown out 22 percent of attempted base stealers in his career.
partial from bybtb

http://newenglishd.com/2015/12/06/jarrod-saltalamacchia-becomes-a-tiger/
Jarrod Saltalamacchia Becomes A Tiger.
nedtb

 

[sggatecl]

If you'd have told me 10 years ago that he would be a Tiger in 2016, I would have been so excited.

 

[biggunsbob]

I guess we had to sigh someone off the scrap heap.

 

[Rebbiv]

He was the worst Free Agent catcher that was still available, which really isn't saying much. Because he was second to the worst to begin with. Meaning most of the free agent catchers had already signed.

Last 3 Years Away

J. Saltamacchia 67.6 RC/650 .212 BAVG .320 OBP .354 SLG .673 OPS 7.9 PA/BB 3.2 PA/SO

A. Avila 58.7 RC/650 .202 BAVG .300 OBP .332 SLG .632 OPS 8.3 PA/BB 3.1 PA/SO


Salty can take a walk. He hits righties better than lefties. He strikes outs as often as Avila. So basically, except for a little bit more power, he is like Avila as a hitter. So I assume the Avila haters are going to love him.

Now, on defense, I have him second to last in all of MLB for defensive metrics. That has always been the knock on him. He doesn't frame pitches well. He doesn't call a good game and he doesn't really throw out runners well.

We now have two of the worst pitch framers in the game. Maybe there is some analytics I am missing here.


http://detroitsportsforum.com/showthread.php?t=20995

 

[Rebbiv]

Also, while the Tigers got him for league minimum, the Marlins are still paying him $7.5 Mil in 2016. So, Salty will be making $8 Mil in 2016.

I wonder if the tools of ignorance still fit me.

 

[Mitchrapp]

Should tell a lot when some team is paying you 7.5m to not play for them.

 

[Rebbiv]

For the record. I would rather have Salty at league minimum as the backup, than Bryan Holaday.

 

[kingofdetroit57]

Haven't watched him play in a while, but didn't he develop a bad case of the yips a few years back?