The Blue Jays have expressed interest in veteran catcher Jarrod Saltalamacchia, reports ESPN’s Jerry Crasnick (via Twitter). Toronto has been known to be looking for a backup to Russell Martin for quite some time, and Saltalamacchia could certainly fit that bill. The 31-year-old switch-hitter recently changed agents and is now a client of ACES after his former agent, Jim Munsey, decided to leave the business.
Saltalamacchia spent the 2016 season with the Tigers and got off to a hot start, carrying an .874 OPS into mid-May and clubbing seven home runs in that time. However, his bat went ice-cold for the remainder of the season as he OPSed just .519 in his final 200 plate appearances and finished the year with an unsightly .171/.284/.346 batting line in 292 PAs.
While those numbers aren’t appealing, Saltalamacchia is just a year removed from a strong performance with the D-backs, during which he batted .251/.332/.474 and hit eight home runs in 194 plate appearances while serving largely in a reserve capacity. From 2011-15, he batted a collective .237/.309/.434, which comes out to a roughly league-average OPS+ (101).
One of the questions that Toronto will have to answer is whether Saltalamacchia is a strong enough defensive option behind the dish to fill their vacancy. Throwing out runners, for instance, has been a struggle for much of Salty’s career, as he’s prevented just 22 percent of stolen-base attempts against him. He also went from solid framing marks from 2010-12 to below-average marks in recent seasons (including a particularly poor 2014 campaign). He’s had issues with passed balls and wild pitches in the past as well, most notably in 2011, though it should be noted that he caught nearly all of knuckleballer Tim Wakefield’s innings that season.
The Jays have been linked to names like Bobby Wilson, Chris Gimenez and Chris Iannetta since the Winter Meetings as they’ve searched for a backup, but each of those options has signed elsewhere (Wilson with the Dodgers, Gimenez with the Twins, Iannetta with the D-backs). Kurt Suzuki, too, has recently come off the board by signing a one-year deal with the Braves. A.J. Jimenez is the top internal option, but he’s coming off a poor 2016 season in Triple-A. Prospect Reese McGuire could eventually be an option in Toronto, but the 21-year-old didn’t exactly thrive in Double-A last season and has yet to even play a game in Triple-A.
Saltalamacchia is a frustrating player. Let him pass by, Blue Jays.
Is it the brutally low percentage of base stealers he throws out or the ocean breezes that emanate from his frequent swing-and-miss trips to the plate?
I endured Salty for too long with the Sox. For the record, his throws to second base are quite near infuriating, to the point you have to wonder ‘does Salty think second base is in right-center field?’
I’d rather they just re-sign Dioner Navarro.
This. If you’re targeting a below average defensive player to fill the backup spot, may as well bring in one that is familiar with the team already and has a higher ceiling with the bat.
#TeamNavarro
Agreed. Navarro would be a much better choice than Salty.
Just keep graterol if his glove is better. The backup catcher is probably the least important offensive stat, and having a bad glove will hurt more than a bad bat
JDGoat says is perfectly. Every single word- on point.
3-8AB per week. And 1-2 game caught. Likely average Pay $3mill per year? Would Navarro as Martin insurance really be worth it? Gamble cheap and find a defensive type is a strategy that I would prefer.
Why do people think backup catchers have this special exemption from offence? Like every position player, it’s a trade off of offensive/defensive outputs that create value.
I personally find it hard to justify any backup position being expected to provide offense. Limited opportunities to shine at the plate means they better excel at defense in my opinion.
The flaw in my philosophy is in the event of an injury, the team becomes exposed. Ideally, there would be minor league depth to draw from, but in this case I do not feel comfortable with any of the alternative options to cover an injury anyway. Rather spend on bullpen.
Any of the current 3 backup options plus Navarro would provide similar value in fulltime duty considering the trade off. Navarro would hit better with more ABs but make more mistakes based on what I’ve been looking at. As a backup, it’s risky to spend in the streaky nature of limited ABs. Pick whoever builds the best rapport with one of the starters if nobody is gunning runners down in Spring. Any offense will be gravy from backup C. In my opinion.
Bottom line is there just isn’t much to like about Saltalamacchia. Below average defense, high K rate, low BA, etc. Even if he worked for free he’s not worth a roster spot.