Marlins sign Saltalamacchia

[Villain]

3 years, 21 Million.

http://www.mlbtraderumors.com/2013/12/marlins-to-sign-jarrod-saltalamacchia-1.html

The Marlins have agreed to a three-year, $21MM contract with catcher Jarrod Saltalamacchia, according to Juan C. Rodriguez of the Sun Sentinel (on Twitter). Saltalamacchia is represented by Munsey Sports Management, as shown in the MLBTR Agency Database.

Salty

Saltalamacchia, 28, also had serious interest from the Twins and some degree of interest from the Rangers, though they seem to have shied away from the idea of a reunion in recent days. With Brian McCann off the board, Salty was the top remaining catcher on the free agent market. On top of that, the former Red Sox backstop had extra appeal with nearly every other starting-caliber backstop already off the board. The switch-hitter batted .273/.338/.466 with 14 homers last season, but he also struck out in nearly 30 percent of his plate appearances and posted just a .628 OPS as a right-handed batter. Among all players with 400 plate appearances in 2013, Salty's 29.6% strikeout rate is the ninth-worst.

Another one of Salty's biggest drawbacks is his difficulty in hitting left-handed pitching, with a .206/.269/.338 line since 2011. Saltalamacchia is below average at throwing out attempting basestealers and preventing them from trying, according to FanGraphs. His caught stealing percentage of 21.2% was second-to-last among qualified catchers this year.

As Mike Berardino of the St. Paul Pioneer Press (Twitter link) pointed out earlier today, the Marlins might have had a leg up on Minnesota in their chase for Salty. Not only do Saltalamacchia and his family reside in Wellington, Fla. (less than 70 miles from Marlins Park), the state has no income tax, meaning the Twins might have had to outspend the Marlins by a significant margin to win out.

The Red Sox would have liked to have Saltalamacchia back in the fold, but they were reportedly unwilling to go beyond two years for a catcher.

 

[ThomasTomasz]

With more "small ball" played in the NL, $7 million per year for a defensively deficient catcher is not a smart investment.