Buried in this New York Post piece about Andres Torres and Mike Pelfrey (short version: both will be non-tendered, possibly brought back cheaper) is an interesting note about Jarrod Saltalamacchia, currently catcher for the Boston Red Sox.
Dan Martin wrote:
The Red Sox could look to move Jarrod Saltalamacchia after signing free-agent catcher David Ross, and the Mets may listen if Saltalamacchia is on the trade market.
With the Mets looking for an upgrade over Josh Thole, the 27-year-old Saltalamacchia would fit. He is coming off a season in which he hit a career-high 25 home runs, although he also struck out 139 times.
But the price for Saltalamacchia would also be high, perhaps Jon Niese. The left-hander just finished the first year of a five-year deal.
Let’s take these component parts, one at a time.
Could the Red Sox be looking to move Saltalamacchia? Absolutely. But Ross and Saltalamacchia aren’t necessarily a poor fit. Ross is righty, but has actually hit righties better than lefties in his career, and more so in recent seasons. Saltalamacchia, a switch-hitter, is really a lefty-masher. So if the Red Sox believe Ryan Lavarnway, their top catching prospect, needs more time, it isn’t a bad fit to have in place. Should Lavarnway force his way up, the Red Sox can clearly get something in return for either or both of Ross/Saltalamacchia.
Next up is just how Saltalamacchia fits with the Mets. Well, if Josh Thole returns, the Mets need a lefty masher. So that fit is a good one. But to truly work, Thole needs to hit righties the way he did prior to 2012, when he didn’t hit anyone or anything after returning from a concussion. If Thole doesn’t return, the Mets need to find a lefty to complement Saltalamacchia.
And that brings us to trading Jon Niese, a frontline starting pitcher signed to a team-friendly deal for years, in exchange for a Saltalamacchia heading into his final arbitration year after 2012, followed by free agency after 2013. Is that really a good use of Niese, trading him for half a starting catcher? Seems less ideal than keeping Niese, or dealing him for a full starting player, or for top prospects. Way down the list, for me, anyway.
So can the Mets get Saltalamacchia? Maybe. Should they? Sure, if it costs a lot less than Jon Niese.
5 Comments
The fairer way to go in this trade would be Dickey since he is not guaranteed to the Red Sox for any more than one very reasonably priced season. However, given his Cy Young type of performance, I’d push for Lavarnway+ in that deal rather than Saltalamacchia. If it centered around Salty, then there would have to be quite a bit more coming back to NY in that deal of Dickey, such as old farmhand De La Torre and Tazakawa. Then you’ve solved some of your middle relief woes, too.
I’d also have to explore what it would take to pry a catcher loose from Toronto—Arencibia or D’Arnaud…and I’d put a feeler out to Seattle about Zuniga who is a few years away but put up EYE POPPING numbers in his first year in pro ball. Zuniga looks like a Piazza type hitter with plus defensive skills.
I agree with Reese. Toronto needs pitching so a package of D’Arencibia plus Jake Marisnick for Niese plus a reliever prospect might work.
Agree …. I need more for Neise…
Trade Dickey, keep Niese. Sad to say, but that’s the way. Get something good for David, too. We’re stuck with the Wilpons, so what has to be done has to be done.
Still think think the Jays need pitching help guys? Teams fill their needs faster and faster, trades are bigger and bigger, except for the sleeping Sandy Alderson. Give him until january and he’ll make another big move like he did with his one “good day” that wasn’t good at all. Maybe if we’re real lucky we can get another Torres type guy to play anywhere.