MLB News and Rumors

The Boston Red Sox announced Thursday that catcher Jarrod Saltalamacchia agreed to a one-year contract. The deal is worth $ 4.5 million, Saltalamacchia’s agent, James Munsey, told ESPN Boston. The deal means that Saltalamacchia avoids salary arbitration. The Red Sox have eight players still eligible for arbitration, including new closer Joel Hanrahan, reliever Andrew Bailey and outfielder Jacoby Ellsbury. Boston also reportedly agreed to a one-year deal with catcher/first baseman Mike Napoli. Saltalamacchia is rumored to be traded because of the Napoli deal, but the team plans to play Napoli at first base. Mauro Gomez and David Ortiz are the other first basemen on the Red Sox’s roster. Ortiz is primarily a designated hitter. Saltalamacchia will likely be the starter behind the plate, backed up by David Ross. Catcher Ryan Lavarnway will probably start the season at Class AAA Pawtucket or be traded. Saltalamacchia had 25 home runs with an on-base percentage of .288 an…

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On Wednesday, while Boston was concluding their laborious managerial search, the Los Angeles Angels of Anaheim acquired Rhode Island native Chris Iannetta from the Rockies for right-hander Tyler Chatwood. The Red Sox had sought to acquire Iannetta at various different points prior to obtaining Jarrod Saltalamacchia. The Angels have made a fantastic move here, giving up a young pitcher with little more than his age in his favor for one the better hitting catchers in the game. The move is a minor loss for Boston, who almost certainly could have found an arm who represented an equivalent value to  Chatwood and benefited from the acquisition of Iannetta.
Boston cooled on Iannetta when they acquired Jarrod Saltalamacchia during the 2010 season. The presence of the power-hitting Ryan Lavarnway means Boston is likely set at catcher at the moment. Still, the cost paid for Iannetta was well with Boston’s means and while Salty showed some potential mid-summer, he also gave the Sox reason to w…

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Carl Crawford hit a grand slam as the Boston Red Sox scored eight runs in the fourth inning and snapped a two-game skid with a 12-7 victory over the Texas Rangers on Saturday.

Jarrod Saltalamacchia had a two-run homer during Boston’s big inning, which featured eight hits as the Red Sox sent 13 batters to the plate and bounced back from a 10-0 loss to the Rangers the night before.

Erik Bedard (5-9) earned his first win since joining Boston in a trade with Seattle. The Red Sox averaged just 3.3 runs in his first three starts, but gave him plenty of support this time. By the time the fourth inning was over, Boston had a 9-3 cushion.

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Marco Scutaro, Dustin Pedroia and Kevin Youkilis homered in the second inning, and the Boston Red Sox beat the Baltimore Orioles 8-6 on Sunday for their sixth consecutive victory.

The Red Sox completed a four-game sweep and stayed one game ahead of the New York Yankees in the AL East, the sixth time in seven seasons that Boston has led the division at the All-Star break.

Baltimore has lost seven straight and 12 of 13.

Managers Terry Francona of the Red Sox and Buck Showalter of the Orioles both were ejected after pitches hit or came close to their batters.

Boston also had three homers in an inning in Thursday’s 10-4 series-opening win, with David Ortiz, Josh Reddick and Jarrod Saltalamacchia hitting solo shots in consecutive at-bats.

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With Brad Lidge, Jose Contreras, and Ryan Madson all on the disabled list, the Philadelphia Phillies turned to 25-year-old Antonio Bastardo in the ninth inning to close out the 2-1 game against the Boston Red Sox Wednesday night. He faced Kevin Youkilis, David Ortiz, and Jarrod Saltalamacchia and put them down in order for his third career save.

The Phils hope he can keep up that kind of performance for at least the next month. At that point, Lidge thinks he may be ready to return.

“Honestly, my shoulder right now feels like nothing ever happened,” Lidge said, according to the Philadelphia Inquirer. Of course, what happened was a partially torn rotator cuff in his right shoulder as well as elbow problems in the same arm.

But Lidge, who is making $ 11.5 million this season, thinks he’s headed for a rehab assignment in the minors next week, the paper reports. “I feel good enough to do it,” he said.

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The Boston offense gave Jon Lester a seven-run advantage before he even stepped out of the dugout in Wednesday’s 12:05 matchup in Cleveland. The Red Sox tallied 14 runs and 20 hits, while Lester and company held the Indians to just two runs on seven hits.

Dustin Pedroia got what he likes to call the “laser show” started with a two-run homer. Carl Crawford and Jarrod Saltalamacchia added RBI singles later in the first inning, followed by a Mike Cameron sacrifice fly that scored Crawford. Boston batted around as Pedroia drove in runs No. 6 and No. 7 on a single of his own.

Adrian Gonzalez joined the party in the third, singling in Drew Sutton to put Boston ahead 8-0. After retiring the rest of the side, Indians starter Mitch Talbot headed for the pines. His replacement, Frank Herrmann faired no better.

David Ortiz and Saltalamacchia homered in the sixth. Big Papi’s was a solo shot, while Salty’s was a three-run bomb that increased the advantage to 13-0. …

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Red Sox catcher Jarrod Saltalamacchia has taken some heat this season, but he was behind the plate for another pitching gem on Sunday. John Lackey pitched eight shutout innings, and Dan Wheeler finished the 7-0 win off by retiring the Angels in order in the ninth. Lackey’s strong performance is a far cry from how he began 2011, but Saltalamacchia says that he’s the same pitcher and is just executing his pitches better. “I don’t think he pitched any different,” Saltalamacchia said. “I think he’s feeling more comfortable, hitting his spots a little better, not missing over the middle, missing…
Yardbarker: MLB

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Marco Scutaro, Jarrod Saltalamacchia and Mike Cameron have returned to the lineup have returned to the Red Sox lineup on Sunday behind John Lackey, as the Red Sox face the Angels in an Easter afternoon game out west. That means that J.D. Drew, Jason Varitek, and Jed Lowrie will get the day off. Righthander Matt Palmer (1-0, 4.22) will be on the hill for Anaheim. Jacoby Ellsbury retains the leadoff spot after going 2-5 with 2 runs at the top of the order on Saturday. Carl Crawford moves up from eighth to seventh after going 2-4 with a run and…
Yardbarker: MLB

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