Sox sign Saltalamacchia for $2.5 million

The Red Sox agreed to a one-year, non-guaranteed for 2012 with Jarrod Saltalamacchia, avoiding salary arbitration for the second-time arbitration eligible catcher. According to an industry source, the deal is for $2.5 million.

Saltalamacchia appeared in 103 games for the Sox last year, all but two of which were as a catcher. The 26-year-old played in 103 games in 2011, hitting .235 with a .288 OBP, .450 slugging mark and .737 OPS while serving as Boston's primary catcher. He showed prodigious raw power, hitting 16 homers with 23 doubles and three triples.

Saltalamacchia, who was acquired at the 2010 trade deadline from the Rangers, had three distinct segments in his first full season in Boston. He got off to a horrendous start, playing in 10 of the Sox' first 12 games and hitting .138 with a .219 OBP, .172 slugging mark and .391 OPS while also struggling defensively. That, in turn, led the Sox to redistribute playing time; Saltalamacchia, who had been expected to be an everyday catcher, entered into more of a timeshare with Jason Varitek.

However, from that point forward, Saltalamacchia became a force for the next three-plus months. From April 17 through Sept. 13, he hit .260 with a .313 OBP, .510 slugging mark and .823 OPS, with 16 homers and 53 RBI in 83 games. He also showed improved work behind the plate, particularly in shutting down opponents' running games. But he struggled over the season's final two weeks, hitting .091/.118/.152/.269 in his last 10 games, with the Sox going 2-8 in those contests. 

Even so, the Sox were impressed by the broader body of work, particularly given that it was Saltalamacchia's first full season as an everyday catcher in the majors. He is expected to be the team's primary catcher in 2012, with Kelly Shoppach having been signed as a solid defensive backup who will also spell the switch-hitting Saltalamacchia against lefties. (Saltalamacchia hit .247/.304/.481/.786 with 11 homers in 263 plate appearances against right-handed pitchers, .209/.252/.383/.635 with five homers in 123 plate appearances against left-handed pitchers.)

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