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| Height: 6-4
Weight: 195
Throws: R
Bats: S Born: May 2, 1985, West Palm Beach, FL Contract: Signed though 2008 |
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| Profile | Player News | Articles | Split Stats | Game Log | Eligibility | Player Comparison |
| 2004 | 2005 | 2006 | 2007 | 2008 |
| Player Notes |
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November 30, 2008 Jarrod Saltalamacchia has been hitting very well with Leones del Escogido in the Dominican League, according to the Boston Globe. He batted .435 with four home runs, two doubles, and eight RBI over his first 23 at-bats. Our View:His sore elbow seems to be fine as well, as he has been throwing favorably. He remains a potential target for the Red Sox, especially if they don't bring Jason Varitek back. |
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November 9, 2008 Jarrod Saltalamacchia says he would love to play for the Red Sox, according to the Boston Herald. Our View:The Red Sox were reported to be intrigued by Saltalamacchia, and could be an option for Boston if they don't re-sign Jason Varitek. |
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September 14, 2008 The Boston Globe reports the Red Sox are very intrigued by Saltalamacchia's ability. An American League scout compared him to Jason Varitek's ability at a similar age. Our View:Don't bet on anything happening soon, though the Rangers could decide to move Saltalamacchia eventually if they decide that fellow young catcher Taylor Teagarden is a better answer for their long-term plans at catcher. Saltalamacchia is out for the rest of the 2008 season with an elbow injury. |
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September 9, 2008 Jarrod Saltalamacchia visited James Andrews in Alabama and the doctor confirmed that the catcher did not sustain any ligament damage in his right forearm, according to the Dallas Morning News. Our View:Saltalamacchia will rest the elbow for six weeks and then be re-evaluated. The doctors are optimistic Saltalamacchia will be able to participate in winter ball. |
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September 2, 2008 The Rangers announced that catcher Jarrod Saltalamacchia will miss the rest of the season with a strained right forearm muscle, this according to the Dallas Morning News. Our View:Salty is headed to see Dr. James Andrews for a second opinion, never a good sign. |
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September 1, 2008 Jarrod Saltalamacchia was forced to leave the Rangers game on Monday night with what is being described as a sore right elbow, according to the Associated Press. Our View:Saltalamacchia hurt his arm while trying to throw out a wold be base stealer and will have an MRI on Tuesday. Just recalled Taylor Teagarden was moved behind the plate in his absence. |
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July 19, 2008 Jarrod Saltalamacchia will probably return on Monday, according to the AP. He is recovering from a groin strain and more recently from the flu. Our View:Taylor Teagarden will likely be sent down once Salty is ready. |
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July 18, 2008 Jarrod Saltalamacchia did not work out with the team Thursday at the Metrodome because of the flu, according to the Star-Telegram. The Rangers plan to test his injured groin today to determine if he will need time on the DL. Our View:If he lands on the shelf, fantasy owners won't be hurt, as he only has three homers over 146 at-bats, with a dismal .219 average. |
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July 8, 2008 Jarrod Saltalamacchia started for the first time since leaving Saturday's game at Baltimore with a right groin strain. Our View:Salty has been a disappointment for fantasy owners that hoped to see similar power numbers on pace with his previous seasons. There's no reason he should have only three home runs playing in Texas. |
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July 8, 2008 Jarrod Saltalamacchia did not start on Monday due to a groin ailment, but could return to the lineup today, according to the Dallas Morning News. Our View:He has registered a hit in five of his last six games, but isn't playing up to expectations in the power department, as he hasn't homered since June 3, which is an 18-game drought. |
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July 6, 2008 Skipper Ron Washington commented that Jarrod Saltalamacchia's strained groin ailment isn't serious, and he should be available to play Sunday, according to the Star Telegram. Washington said, "He just tweaked his groin a little bit and we didn’t want to take a chance with him in the box, especially with the torque you’ve got to have to swing the bat. All we needed was for him to take a swing at something and make it worse than what it is." Our View:Max Ramirez replaced him on Saturday night, and would start Sunday if Saltalamacchia ultimately cannot go. |
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July 5, 2008 Jarrod Saltalamacchia was removed from the Rangers game on Saturday after a sixth inning at-bat during which he strained his groin, according to the Star Telegram. Our View:The team is putting on a brave face saying that this is nothing more than a day-to-day type injury, but only time will tell. Max Ramirez figures to start in Jarrod's place on Sunday after entering the game on Saturday night. |
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June 19, 2008 Jarrod Saltalamacchia, who is with the parent club because of his bat, went 0-for-4 in Thursday's win over the Braves. The young catcher's average fell to .226 in 93 at-bats on the season. Our View:Atlanta stole two bases, giving Texas opponents 23 consecutive thefts when Saltalamacchia is the catcher. Again, Salty needs to hit if he wants to carry his weight. |
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June 12, 2008 Jarrod Saltalamacchia is nursing a sore right wrist, but is scheduled to start today's game against Kansas City, according to the Dallas Morning News. Our View:He is only hitting .257, but registered three homers and 14 RBI over 22 games, with 10 runs scored. He should continue to improve this season as he gains more experience at the plate. |
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May 12, 2008 Jarrod Saltalamacchia got the start on Sunday behind the plate, going 1-for-2 with two RBI. The Rangers future starting catcher also walked twice showing his patience at the plate. Our View:The former Brave did not start the season in the minor leagues due to his bat, this part of his game is not in question. It's his defense, which was sub-standard again on Sunday. When Salty is behind the plate, teams run. The station-to-station A's stole five bases on the Rangers catcher, and only one of the thefts could be possibly attributed to the Texas pitching staff. It's more than obvious the "future catcher" is more likely to end up being the "future first baseman or designated hitter." |
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May 3, 2008 Manager Ron Washington commented on his plans at catcher, according to MLB.com. Washington noted that he is planning to alternate Gerald Laird and Jarrod Saltalamacchia two games at a time. Laird will catch Sunday against the Athletics and Monday against the Mariners. Saltalamacchia will catch Tuesday and Wednesday, and then it will be back to Laird. Washington added, "I'm just trying to get them back-to-back at-bats. It was a matter of how I was going to do it. I'm trying to figure out how to get them both the most playing time. We've got two good catchers; I need to get two of them in there. We'll just see how it goes. At some point it will take care of itself." Our View:Saltalamacchia got the call on Saturday, which was his fourth start in the last eight games. Laird is better defensively, but Saltalamacchia has more upside offensively. As expected, the Rangers will cycle them both in a platoon at the position. |
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May 1, 2008 Jarrod Saltalamacchia is starting today at catcher against Zack Greinke and the Royals, according to the Star Telegram. He is batting eighth in the order. Our View:Start him if you have him today. He is 2-for-7 so far, with one RBI. |
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April 26, 2008 Jarrod Saltalamacchia won't be returning to Triple-A anytime soon, according to the Star-Telegram. The team decided to release backup catcher Adam Melhuse, rather than place him on the DL due to his hand ailment. The Rangers haven't etched out a role for Saltalamacchia, but he is expected to cut into the playing time of regular catcher Gerald Laird. Manager Ron Washington noted that he will not spend time at first base. Our View:Saltalamacchia will serve as the top backup for now, although he has more upside than starter Gerald Laird. Saltalamacchia is still worth stashing on your rosters if you have a spot for him. |
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April 25, 2008 The Rangers recalled catcher Jarrod Saltalamacchia from Triple-A Oklahoma and released catcher Adam Melhuse, this according to the Sports Network. Our View:Saltalamacchia, who has been in in Oklahoma City since the start of the season, will backup starting catcher Gerald Laird. |
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April 25, 2008 As previously speculated, Jarrod Saltalamacchia is in fact joining the Rangers, according to the Star Telegram. He is on his way from Oklahoma City and will join the Rangers for tonight's game against the Twins. Our View:He will take the spot of the injured Adam Melhuse (as the top backup), who is headed to the DL with his hand injury. Jarrod has far more upside than Gerald Laird, and it shouldn't take long before he cuts into Laird's playing time, and ultimately emerges as the starter, assuming he will stick around and not get sent back down. |
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April 25, 2008 Jarrod Saltalamacchia could get called up by the Rangers, according to MLB.com. He could join the team as soon as Friday, after backup catcher Adam Melhuse suffered a bruised right hand in the Rangers' 8-2 loss to the Tigers on Thursday. GM Jon Daniels stated it is a distinct poosibility he will be called up, and added that the team will know more today. Our View:Fantasy owners may get their wish, and he would be a hot prospect on the waiver wire if he does join the Rangers. He has far more upside than Gerald Laird, meaning he would push him for playing time and potentially unseat Laird at some point as the starter. |
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March 26, 2008 The Rangers optioned Jarrod Saltalamacchia to Triple-A Oklahoma on Wednesday. The promising backstop will start everyday in the minors, and fantasy owners can only pray that the Rangers will call him up quickly. |
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March 25, 2008 Jarrod Saltalamacchia had a tough day at the plate against the Cubs on Monday as he went 0-for-3 with three strikeouts. As previously reported, he could get sent down to the minors. |
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March 23, 2008 Jarrod Saltalamacchia could get sent down to the minors, according to the AP. The team has been trying to deal Gerald Laird, but have not received any solid offers for him. They don't want to merely release him, so that could send Saltalamacchia, their best young prospect, back to the minors. |
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March 20, 2008 Jarrod Saltalamacchia doubled his RBI production and homer output in one spring game on Thursday. Salty blasted a three-run home run in the fourth inning of the Rangers 4-3 win. It's still possible that Saltalamacchia could begin the season at Triple-A with Gerald Laird serving as the primary backstop opening day. |
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March 9, 2008 Jarrod Saltalamacchia hit his first home run of the spring on Sunday, a shot to right-center. Saltalamacchia came into today's game batting .167 on the spring. |
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March 5, 2008 We're still relatively early in the spring schedule, and the Fort Worth Star-Telegram says that the catcher battle is still tight between Gerald Laird and Jarrod Saltalamacchia. The huge worry for fantasy owners is that Salty will lose and end up back in Triple-A. He has the ability to be a top-10 (if not top-5) fantasy catcher, but he obviously needs the job and the at-bats. |
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February 15, 2008 Young stud Jarrod Saltalamacchia will compete with Gerald Laird for the starting job behind the plate for the Rangers. "It's open," manager Ron Washington said in the Dallas Morning News. "It's going to be a healthy competition." If Salty doesn't win the everyday job, he's expected to begin the year in the minors, leaving Adam Melhuse to back up Laird. |
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February 15, 2008 The Rangers official team website reports that the club has six catchers in camp -- two of which are competing for the starting job. Gerald Laird, who was the Opening Day backstop in 2007, will fight it out with Jarrod Saltalamacchia this spring. Laird is the stronger of the two defensively, while the switch-hitting Saltalamacchia has the better bat -- supposedly. Saltalamacchia is entering his first full season and during his 2007 starts, threw out less than 10 percent of the runners attempting to steal second base. |