Jarrod Saltalamacchia to Tigers: Latest Contract Details, Comments, Reaction

Jarrod Saltalamacchia was once seen as a highly regarded catching prospect who could occupy a power-hitting spot in the middle of any order. He will have an opportunity to resurrect his career at the age of 30 with the Detroit Tigers after the American League team reportedly signed him Sunday.

Ken Rosenthal of Fox Sports noted the Tigers inked the catcher to a major league deal. Detroit will pay Saltalamacchia the minimum, while the Miami Marlins will cover the rest of his $8 million salary.

Saltalamacchia played nine games for the Marlins and 70 for the Arizona Diamondbacks last season and hit .225 with nine home runs and 24 RBI. While he was far from an offensive force, he isn’t long removed from an impressive stretch with the Boston Red Sox from 2011 to 2013, when he hit a combined 55 home runs.

He has never been spectacular in the field and boasts a minus-32 mark in total defensive runs saved above average during his career, according to FanGraphs. He has thrown out only 22 percent of potential base stealers during his career, per ESPN.com.

Saltalamacchia is not a defense-first catcher, but he will give the Tigers some pop in their order if he can return to the offensive form he demonstrated as a member of the Red Sox.

Don’t expect Saltalamacchia to automatically slide in as the starting catcher in the Motor City, though, especially since James McCann played 114 games there in 2015.

McCann hit .320 against left-handed pitching last year, compared to his .247 average against right-handed hurlers, per ESPN.com. Saltalamacchia has hit .248 against right-handers and .230 against southpaws over the last three seasons, and 27 of his 34 home runs during that span have come against righties, per ESPN.com.

This signing provides Detroit with some options to mix and match the lineup based on opposing pitchers, considering Saltalamacchia hits right-handers better, while McCann hits lefties more effectively.

Saltalamacchia may not turn heads like he used to, but the Tigers added some depth at the position and a catcher who once hit 25 long balls in a season.