Jarrod Saltalamacchia and the Boston Red Sox have agreed to terms on a one-year, 2.5 million dollar contract, according to ESPN.
The 26-year-old catcher was scheduled for arbitration but this move negates that. Saltalamacchia provides a decent bat behind the plate but more importantly an excellent arm. The Red Sox are thin at the catcher position so this signing at least stabilizes that area.
While Saltalamacchia has been inconsistent to say the least in his major league career, he's shown flashes of who he was expected to be coming out of the minors. Last year was his best at the dish, hitting 16 home runs in just 103 games. However, Saltalamacchia still only hit .235 and struck out 119 times in just 358 at-bats.
This season may be the make or break one for a young man with inconsistency issues. The talent is there but can Saltalamacchia find a way to harness it and put a full season together?
The contract is non-guaranteed so Boston does have some wiggle room if he struggles or if they make a move for a better signal-caller down the road.
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