Jarrod Saltalamacchia

39-Year-Old CatcherC

Free Agent

2024 Stats

AVG

.000

RBI

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2024 Fantasy Outlook

There was no outlook written for Jarrod Saltalamacchia in 2024. Check out the latest news below for more on his current fantasy value.

Bats B

Throws R

40 Man No

Height 6'4"

Weight 195

DOB 5/2/1985

Drafted 2003

Hangs it up

CFree Agent

January 28, 2019

Saltalamacchia announced his retirement from Major League Baseball on Monday, Ken Rosenthal of The Athletic reports.

ANALYSIS
Saltalamacchia called it a career after appearing in just five games for the Tigers during the 2018 campaign. He joined forces with seven different teams over the course of his 12-year career and finishes with a .232/.306/.408 slash line along with 110 home runs and 381 RBI over 895 total games.

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Recent RotoWire Articles Featuring Jarrod Saltalamacchia See More

AL FAAB Factor: Waiver Pickups of the Week

September 16, 2018

Erik Siegrist looks over the waiver wire heading into the final two weeks of the season and notes that Reynaldo Lopez is pitching far too well to be unrostered.

AL FAAB Factor: Waiver Pickups of the Week

April 30, 2017

Erik Siegrist sifts through the free agent pool in the American League and thinks Avisail Garcia's hot start makes him worth a look in shallow formats.

The Wheelhouse: AL LABR Review

March 9, 2017

Clay Link reviews his AL LABR auction. What was the plan going in? Did he ute?

DraftKings MLB: Monday Picks

August 29, 2016

Mike Napoli continues to hit lefties well, which sets up nicely Monday against the Twins' Hector Santiago, who has allowed 23 earned runs, including seven homers, in his last four starts.

DFS Baseball 101: Unlocking Ownership Percentages

August 1, 2016

Michael Rathburn analyzes chalk plays in daily baseball and how to take advantage of ownership percentages in cash games.

Past Fantasy Outlooks

2017

2016

2015

2014

2013

2012

2011

2010

2009

2008

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2006

Salty entered the 2016 season on the heels of a late-career power spike, and his six-homer outburst in his first 13 games of the season further fanned the flames of optimism. However, his bat stalled soon after it left the station last year, and he finished with career-worst figures in each of the triple-slash categories. He hit half of his homers and most of his doubles in the first three weeks of the season, after which he limped his way to an anemic .150/.270/.256 line in 248 plate appearances the rest of the way. The 10-year veteran is still young enough for a rebound, and switch-hitting catchers have long lifespans in MLB, but beware that even the upside is a stat line full of holes, much like his swing. Did we mention that he had a career-high 35.6 percent strikeout rate last season? Even after signing a deal to likely be Russell Martin's backup in Toronto, the gaps in his game make him a high-risk pick in deeper leagues.

Saltalamacchia probably wants to forget the beginning of the 2015 season. In nine games and 33 plate appearances with Miami, Salty recorded just two hits, leading to his unceremonious release in early May. He eventually caught on with the Diamondbacks and was more productive while working primarily in a backup role, eating more into Welington Castillo's workload as the season wore on. He will compete with Bryan Holiday for time behind James McCann after signing with Detroit in the offseason, providing some power when on the field but draining the batting average.

Saltalamacchia came out of the gates on fire in his debut season with Miami, batting .310/.416/.595 during his first 27 games. He cooled significantly after that red-hot opening month, however, and ended the year with a disappointing .220/.320/.362 line over 373 at-bats with 43 runs scored, 11 home runs and 44 RBI in his age-29 campaign. Salty’s power numbers dipped significantly from his final season in Boston, as he tallied just 31 extra-base hits a year after racking up 14 home runs and 40 doubles. Saltalamacchia did manage a career-best 12.3 BB% last season, but the Marlins are looking for a bit more punch from a player who averaged 18 home runs and 27 doubles in 115 games from 2011-2013.

Saltalamacchia enjoyed a career-best season for Boston in 2013, setting high-water marks in on-base percentage, slugging, OPS and RBI, while posting a .273 batting average. He was able to parlay that into a three-year deal from the Marlins, a contract length to which the Red Sox were unwilling to commit. For much of his career in Boston, Saltalamacchia was known for streaky hitting, power and high strikeout totals. The penchant for Ks remains, but he was a more consistent batter in 2013, and over the past three seasons, he's averaged 18 homers and 60 RBI. He also improved defensively during his time with Boston, finishing seventh in catcher's ERA in 2013.

Saltalamacchia enters the offseason as Boston's starting catcher, but the addition of David Ross in the offseason opens up plenty of uncertainty. Saltalamacchia, who will get a raise in arbitration, struggles to hit lefties and hit only .222 overall. He had 25 homers and improved defensively, but the catching surplus at the major league level could lead to a trade. Boston is caught with two catchers that have holes in their games. Both Saltalamacchia and Ryan Lavarnway have their deficiencies. Ross is a nice mix between the two, but we get the sense that the team is not entirely sold on any of the trio as a full-time catcher. Barring another move involving a catcher, we will probably see a Saltalamacchia/Ross mix in Boston while Lavarnway (who has options left) begins the season at Triple-A Pawtucket.

Saltalamacchia overcame a tough start to the season to be a pretty reliable backstop with some occasional power and had the most plate appearances of his career. He wore down toward the end of the season and that was reflected in his .191 average over the final two months. It looks like the team will give prospect Ryan Lavarnway a shot to earn a job on the major league roster, though he's not ready to take over the load full time. Saltalamacchia will be right back at it for Boston in 2012.

In the early stages of the offseason, Saltalamacchia is considered Boston's catcher on Opening Day. And that may very well be the case, but the Red Sox aren't exactly comfortable giving him the keys to the car every day -- at least not until we see what transpires in spring training. Saltalamacchia may develop during the exhibition season and the team will feel confident in him, but there's nothing in his recent history to suggest that 2011 is any different than 2009 or 2010 when he was given a shot as the Rangers' everyday backstop.

Salty had his season effectively ended in early August due to Thoracic Outlet Syndrome, but failed to hit (again) when he was healthy earlier in the season (.233/.290/.371, 22:97 BB:K in 283 at-bats). Of concern was his dropoff against righties (.235/.294/.369 in 187 at-bats), which he had shown some competency to hit in the previous two seasons. His winter ball stint ended with additional shoulder discomfort, though it was deemed "normal" by the doctor that performed surgery in August. Texas was said to be in the market for a catcher this winter, in part due to Salty's injury and in part due to his anemic bat. His career line of .251/.314/.389 in 789 at-bats are a far cry from what was expected as a prospect in the Braves' system, and there's been no sign of growth to get too excited about going forward.

As Salty's minor league totals get further and further away in the rear view mirror, one has to accept the fact that his career major-league numbers (.261/.327/.399, 149 Ks in 506 at-bats) just aren't very good. He battled a groin injury early on, and a forearm injury ended his season in early September. He continued to show some value as a possible platoon player, hitting .311/.426/.451 in 122 at-bats against righties (.290/.335/.461 in 193 at-bats against righties in 2007), but a lot more was expected of him coming up through the minors. His name surfaced in numerous winter trade talks, but nothing beyond tire kicking. There's still value if he lands in a situation where his exposure against lefties is limited. The trade of Gerald Laird to Detroit frees up some at-bats.

Salty split time between first base and catcher all season, but Texas announced over the winter that he'll go back to being a full-time catcher. His major league debut (.266/.310/.422 overall, .252/.290/431 with Texas) wasn't as good as hoped, but his numbers against righties (.290/335/.461 in 193 at-bats) show some promise even if he's limited to a platoon role. How much he'll play largely depends on what Texas decides to do with Gerald Laird.

Despite a subpar year in the minors, Saltalamacchia is still regarded as perhaps the top hitting prospect in the Atlanta system. He made a strong impression in big league spring training, but then slumped in the first half with Double-A Mississippi by hitting just .197/.311/.297 and struggled with a sore wrist. Scouts and coaches said his defense improved despite his problems at the plate and he rebounded somewhat in the second half of the season and had a strong limited AFL campaign (.565 with three home runs in 23 at bats). With the Braves set at catcher for some time with Brian McCann, "Salty" might be a candidate to be traded this offseason. He'll start the year at Double-A and there's been talk he could be moved to first base if the Braves want to move his bat into the lineup quicker with McCann around.

Saltalamacchia may be the top prospect in the Braves organization after hitting .314/.394/.519 for High-A Myrtle Beach with 19 home runs at age 20. He seems to have everything you'd want in a catcher: raw power, a good eye at the plate, a strong arm and he hits well from both sides of the dish. About the only negative is that Atlanta already has a young phenom catcher at the major league level in Brian McCann. He'll need a full season at Double-A before becoming a factor in the majors, but he's a keeper to grab in deeper leagues.

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Heads to big leagues Sunday

CDetroit Tigers

September 9, 2018

Saltalamacchia's contract was selected from Triple-A Toledo on Sunday.