The Red Sox picked up a bit of catching depth on Saturday at the MLB trade deadline, adding Jarrod Saltalamacchia from the Rangers in return for Low-A pitcher Roman Mendez, Single-A first baseman Chris McGuiness, a player to be named later, and cash considerations. Saltalamacchia was immediately optioned to Pawtucket.
Saltalamacchia was once a highly-thought of catching prospect but never lived up to his potential (his best season was his rookie year in 2007, when he hit .266 with 11 home runs and a 90 OPS+ in 93 games for the Braves and Rangers).
In 2010, Saltalamacchia has played in just two MLB games (he's 1-for-5 with an RBI), while he spends time in Triple-A Oklahoma City, where he's having a less than impressive year (244/.326/.445 in 238 at bats).
One of the reasons Saltalamacchia is in the minors is that he has had trouble throwing the ball back to the pitcher. He is only 25, however, and could still emerge as at least a backup if not a starter should be overcome his issues.
Ben Buchanan's Over The Monster has more details regarding the prospects given up by Boston.
Roman Mendez came into the season as a big time breakout candidate in Single-A Greenville, but was absolutely shelled early on. He's had a little more success since being demoted to Lowell, but has still struggled. With a high-90s fastball and a strong slider, Mendez is seen by many as a future closer. Chris McGuiness had been having a big season in Greenville with a line of .298/.416/.504, but at 22-years-old was not playing age appropriate competition. Still, it seems like a fair bit to give up for a fallen prospect like Saltalamachhia.