The Tigers have agreed to a minor league contract with veteran catcher Jarrod Saltalamacchia, MLBTR has confirmed. MLB.com’s Jason Beck first tweeted that Saltalamacchia showed up at the Tigers’ Spring Training facility. Saltalamacchia is represented by ACES.
This will mark the second go-around with the Tigers for Saltalamacchia, as the switch-hitting veteran also spent the 2016 campaign in Detroit. Salty got off to a fast start in ’16, carrying an OPS north of .900 through the month of April and managing to keep that mark at a solid .776 through the end of June. However, his offensive output cratered from that point forth, as he hit just .128/.237/.231 in his final 139 plate appearances of the season.
Last year, Saltalamacchia spent time in the Blue Jays organization, appearing in 10 big league games and 33 games in Triple-A while struggling mightily at each level (.515 OPS in Triple-A). Those struggles continued into a stint in the Mexican Winter League. He’d been working out at the free-agent Spring Training camp at IMG Academy in Bradenton, Fla., prior to landing back with the Tigers.
Detroit has plenty of catching depth on hand at present, with James McCann slated to start and John Hicks in line to be his primary backup. Derek Norris has also been competing for that job on a non-roster deal in Spring Training and has performed quite well at the plate in limited action thus far. Fellow veteran Brayan Pena is also in Tigers camp, giving them yet another option (and another former Tiger) who could serve as depth in Triple-A.
It’s possible that one or both of Norris or Pena will ultimately land with another organization if he cannot crack the big league roster out of camp. In that instance, Saltalamacchia could occupy a spot in Triple-A Toledo to open the season. He could also simply use this opportunity with the Tigers as a means of giving other clubs a look at him for the next few weeks, at which point he, too, could land elsewhere.
Rough as the 2016-17 seasons were for Saltalamacchia, the 32-year-old is not that far removed from a relatively productive five-year run during which he slashed .237/.309/.434 with 75 homers in 1966 plate appearances. While those numbers are hardly eye-catching, they did translate to a 101 OPS+, or roughly average production when factoring in league and home park. Relative to other catchers, in particular, Saltalamacchia was a more than viable offensive option during that stretch.
Signings this week are players returning to familiar places, who’s next, Holliday to Oak, Col, or Stl, Lynn back to Stl..Arrieta..to Balt..or Chi
I could see Arrieta signing a 1 year deal with the tigers so that he can keep working with Chris Bosio( the pitching coach who made Arrieta who he is in Chicago) it’s Bosio first year with Detroit
I don’t think the tigers would want to pay another 20 million+ for a player this year. They could have kept JV. Additionally they already have a bad 20+ million contract with Zimmerman.
I agree they probably won’t but if they could get him for a reasonable price on a one year deal he could be a nice trade chip.
Good point
Ichiro to Seattle.
Salty will always be a legend!
He holds the record for longest last name in MLB history
Sox fans will never forget his dutiful service and contribution to the 13 team, most notable sitting on his ass and letting David Ross lead the charge in the playoff run.
Have never seen worse footwork from a catcher attempting to throw out baserunners. Salty hit the power alley more with his arm than his bat.
As a Sox fan, I look at him as a poor man’s Rich Gedman. Oh how that 86 team could have used a David Ross type backup. That Bob Stanley wild pitch was a past ball. Salty was never a good defensive catcher and his offense never lived up to the hype.
Agreed on both the content of your post and your name. Dewey, my all-time favorite player, deserves Cooperstown!
Just wished one of the Texas teams would bring Salty back. He is one of the best catchers out there. Everybody has his up and down years. He’s a vet with a proven track record. And he works great with the pitching staff. I know all the haters and trolls are going to eat this up but they are just that “Haters and trolls”….Yes I’m a big or huge Salty fan always have been since or before he got drafted.
Yep and I’m a huge Carlton Fisk fan. I sure hope they bring him back he’d be great with the pitching staff and he was a solid veteran. Oh wait he’s older and not performing like he used to. Maybe it wouldn’t be a good idea because he’s past his prime. I don’t know just thinking out loud.
But he seems to be a good dude. Maybe it’s time for Salty to coach?
How many has been catchers do we need? Facepalm.
I agree with the article. salty may beat out one of those other dudes or one of the other dudes might get traded. let me see
The Jays gave Salty a long good look last year at the MLB level and it was obvious he no longer belongs in the major leagues….
That’s a lot of catchers for 4 spots. I count 6 or 7. The youngster Greiner needs to play at Toledo. Not sure what the plan is if there is one.
I think the plan is trading James McCann. Greiner and Rogers are pushing McCann out of any long-term plan, I think, and I can’t think of another reason Detroit would be stockpiling veteran catchers the way they are.
Maybe Washington would take Zimmermann back with McCann thrown in.