With one former Atlanta Braves catcher signed, the Boston Red Sox have been rumored to wanting to trade another former Braves catcher in Jarrod Saltalamacchia after acquiring free agent David Ross.
Ross received a two-year $6.2 million deal on Saturday morning.
With Ross now in the club, the Red Sox have a chance to move either Ryan Lavarnway or Saltalamacchia. Chances are though that they move the 27-year-old veteran who is known as "Salty" for short.
Lavarnway is two years younger than Salty, turning 25 back in August and he is one of their prospects. He is expected to be mentored by David Ross who came off the bench for the Atlanta Braves and did a phenominal job, not only catching, but hitting as well.
Ross started an average of 56 games for the Braves in four seasons in Atlanta. He hit 24 home runs and drove in 94 runs while hitting .269 and had an on-base percentage of .353. He will be platooning as he will share the catching duties with either Lavarnway or Saltalamacchia.
However, chances are that the Red Sox use Saltalamacchia's 2012 season as a chip in a trade. He hit 25 home runs and drove in 59 runs despite only hiitting .222.
There aren't a lot of catchers who can smack 20-plus home runs. In fact, last season there were only nine catchers with more than 20 homers and Salty was third on the list with his 25.
Trade bait is what Saltalamacchia has become and he might find himself back in the N.L. East as the New York Mets could really use a starting catcher with power.
