One trade we missed: C Jarrod Saltalamacchia to the Red Sox

After the 4 PM trading deadline, I figured no other big names would be moved. With that in mind, I logged out and shut down the computer and went out for a break. There's only so much you can take on deadline day. When I arrived home I realized that there was one trade that I had missed, that being the trade of Texas Rangers' catcher Jarrod Saltalamacchia to the Boston Red Sox for two minor leaguers, a player to be named later and cash.

"Salty," a former first round pick (36th overall) in the 2003 by the Atlanta Braves, was acquired by Texas with SS Elvis Andrus, RHP Neftali Feliz, RHP Matt Harison and pitcher Beau Jones in the deal that sent Mark Teixeira to Atlanta. While the trade has been regarded as one of the worst trades in Braves history (all the players with the exception of Jones are successful big leaguers), Salty hasn't made it seem as though losing him was a blow. With the Braves already having an All-Star catcher in Brian McCann, Salty was expendable. Since his trade to the Rangers, injuries have taken their toll on his career and Salty hasn't lived up to the expectations that surrounded him as a first round pick and top prospect in the Braves organization.

Saltalamacchia made his debut in 2007 for the Braves, hitting .284 with 4 home runs and 12 RBIs, while striking out just 28 times in 141 at-bats. A solid start for a rookie, Braves fans expected, with McCann at catcher, the team would transition Salty to first base for the long-term. Never happened. In July, he was traded to Texas for Teixeira. In Teixeira, the Braves felt they had a World Series caliber team that could make the playoffs for the first time since 2005. It would not be so, as the Braves imploded, and finished third in the NL East behind the New York Mets and division winning Philadelphia Phillies. Meanwhile, Salty thrived in Texas, hitting .251 with 7 home runs and 21 RBIs in 46 games as both a catcher and first baseman. When the season ended, many thought Salty was primed to show his talent for 2008. However, Saltalamacchia struggled in 2008, playing in just 61 games and posting a .253 average with 3 home runs and 26 RBIs because he lost the starting catching job to Gerald Laird, resulting in a demotion to Triple-AAA before he was called back up in August. It's also worth noting in 2008 that the Braves traded Teixeira at the trade deadline and that, although Salty was struggling, Braves fans felt cheated at what they gave up for a year of Tex.

2009 looked like Salty had returned to form, as he was hitting just .233, but had 9 home runs and 34 RBIs in 84 games through August. However, on August 15 he suffered a severe shoulder injury which would end his season and require surgery. With a revamped Saltalamacchia for the 2010 season, many wondered if this would be the 25 year-old's chance. It would not be so, as on the second day of the season, Salty hit the DL as he was having trouble throwing the ball back to the pitcher as a result of his shoulder surgery. On April 27, he was activated from the DL and sent down to Triple-AAA, appearing in only two games for the Rangers this season. In Triple-AAA Oklahoma City, Salty is hitting .244 with 11 home runs and 33 RBIs while playing in 63 games, 55 at catcher.

Yesterday, he was traded to the Red Sox for RHP Roman Mendez and 1B Chris McGuiness. Immediately upon his trade to the Red Sox, Saltalamacchia, who holds the record for the longest name in baseball history, was optioned to Triple-AAA Pawtucket. He'll continue to rehab his shoulder in the minors, but will likely get a call up this season due to the injuries that have succumbed the Red Sox to a third place hold.

“We’d scouted him heavily this year,” Sox general manager Theo Epstein said. “He was obviously a guy we’d liked a lot in the past who came with a really heavy price tag in the past. He’s someone we hope we’re buying low on right now as he’s battling a few different issues.”

“We had scouts on him right until the deadline,” Epstein said. “He’s throwing the ball back to the pitcher fine, throwing to the bases pretty well. We feel like he’s a classic guy with a high ceiling who needs a change of scenery. He’d kind of been butting heads with the organization over there a little bit. He’s a guy we think we can work with to unleash that potential.”

“He may end up being a move that helps us in the short term,” Epstein said. “He’s definitely someone that we think has a chance to impact the organization in the long term.”

Mendez, 20, was ranked the Red Sox's 23rd best prospect. An international signing in 2008 out of the Dominican Republic, Mendez has struggled this year: a 2-5 record and 6.56 ERA in 14 starts between A and A-. He's a power pitcher though, striking out 53 in 48.0 innings this year, resulting in a 9.9 k/10 rate. Reportedly, he has touched 97 mph on the radar gun. A sure future mid-rotation starter.

McGuiness, 22, was the Red Sox's 13th round pick in the 2009 draft. A first baseman by trade, he struggled in his first pro season in 2009, hitting just .245 with 6 home runs and 39 RBIs in 60 games for A and A-. This season however, he's turned it on, hitting .298 with 11 home runs and 46 RBIs in 78 games for Single-A Greenville. He's not listed in their top prospects, but if he continues to tear it up, you could very well see him there come next season. The one player I think of when I see McGuiness' stats: Lars Anderson, another Red Sox top prospect.

I think this was a good trade for Salty and the Sox. A change of scenery could definitely always help in improving his career and living up to the expectations that were set for him in Atlanta and Texas. For the Red Sox, Salty, if he can improve, gives them a young, long-term catcher which would allow them to let catcher Victor Martinez walk via free agency. It's big gamble and risk, but for what the Red Sox gave up, it could turn out to be one of the best moves they'll ever make.