Marlins just DFA'd Salty

[nattysez]

According to a few sources on Twitter and MLB Trade Rumors.
 
They are paying him $7mm this year and $8mm next year.  That's quite a bit of money to eat.
 
He .OPS'd .681 last year and was abysmal through 9 games this year, but it's not like the Marlins to give away money like this.
 
On the plus side, he just had a kid, so he might be happy to stay at home with his kid for awhile.

 

[soxhop411]

@joecapMARLINS: #Marlins Jarrod Saltalamacchia reinstated from paternity list and designated for assignment.

 

[Smiling Joe Hesketh]

2 for 29 on the year so far.
 
He was down last year from his 2013 Boston numbers, but he's only 30. Hard to think he's just completely lost it already.

 

[jon abbey]

He's supposed to be one of the worst catchers at pitch framing also, that's not helping his case.

 

[Red(s)HawksFan]

2 for 29 on the year so far.
 
He was down last year from his 2013 Boston numbers, but he's only 30. Hard to think he's just completely lost it already.

 
BABIP of .063 in those 29 ABs.  Ouch.
 
Someone will no doubt take a flyer on him, especially since he'll come cheap (once he clears waivers).  Kinda surprised by the Marlins quick trigger on this.
 
And already, the "nice fit" drums are sounding amongst the Boston beat writers (okay, it's only Ian Browne).
 

Ian Browne @IanMBrowne
Salty would have to clear waivers and all that, but he could be a nice fit on this Red Sox team.

 

[mauidano]

$15 million? Yeah, I think he's probably cool with hanging out at home.  However, he is a MLB caliber catcher, SOMEONE will take a flyer on him.

 

[Greg29fan]

He's supposed to be one of the worst catchers at pitch framing also, that's not helping his case.

 
https://twitter.com/Ken_Rosenthal/status/592773428907737088

 

[mauidano]

 
BABIP of .063 in those 29 ABs.  Ouch.
 
Someone will no doubt take a flyer on him, especially since he'll come cheap (once he clears waivers).  Kinda surprised by the Marlins quick trigger on this.
 

 

$15 million? Yeah, I think he's probably cool with hanging out at home.  However, he is a MLB caliber catcher, SOMEONE will take a flyer on him.

Great minds think alike.

 

[MentalDisabldLst]

 
https://twitter.com/Ken_Rosenthal/status/592773428907737088

 
Worcester's Own Tanyon Sturtze?  Talk about chugging the haterade.

 

[Tyrone Biggums]

Vegas would put odds on the Cubs claiming him as 7/2. He's a former Red Sox they can't resist.

 

[Lose Remerswaal]

Some fun stuff in 700+ posts about him becoming a Free Agent after the last title

 

[Sox and Rocks]

A lot of SOSHers were upset the Sox didn't re-sign him, and now he can be had for next to nothing (though I realize the Sox catching situation has changed since then).
 
That was a bad contract from day one. 

 

[MakMan44]

I'd actually rather the Sox just stuck with Hanigan at this point. I doubt I'm alone in feeling that way either. 

 

[brs3]

I'd actually rather the Sox just stuck with Hanigan at this point. I doubt I'm alone in feeling that way either. 

 
Hanigan is miles better than Salty is, at the moment.

 

[soxhop411]

Jerry Crasnick ‏@jcrasnick  43s
43 seconds ago
#RedSox, #Indians, #Mariners and #Dbacks among potential landing spots for Jarrod Saltalamacchia, says one MLB source.

 

[CaptainLaddie]

Holy shit, he's probably got the least amount of followers for a verified account that I've ever seen.

 

[nattysez]

Vegas would put odds on the Cubs claiming him as 7/2. He's a former Red Sox they can't resist.

 
The Cubs currently have a three-catcher rotation.  Of all the teams in the majors, the #1 team that absolutely will not be trading for Salty will be the Cubs.

 

[ItOnceWasMyLife]

Goodness!   Who knew one bad throw to third could have such a lasting effect?

 

[MakMan44]

DBacks seems like a pretty perfect fit.

 

[GRPhilipp]

@joecapMARLINS: #Marlins Jarrod Saltalamacchia reinstated from paternity list and designated for assignment.

The Marlins used virtually the same wording in their tweet. This could be read as a signal that they fired him in retaliation for taking paternity leave. That organization just epitomizes class.

 

[MakMan44]

The Marlins used virtually the same wording in their tweet. This could be read as a signal that they fired him in retaliation for taking paternity leave. That organization just epitomizes class.

I....uhhh....what?

 

[SydneySox]

The Marlins used virtually the same wording in their tweet. This could be read as a signal that they fired him in retaliation for taking paternity leave. That organization just epitomizes class.

 
It could. That is true.

 

[GraysonGrandeGonads]

The Marlins used virtually the same wording in their tweet. This could be read as a signal that they fired him in retaliation for taking paternity leave. That organization just epitomizes class.

MLB doesn't have an exemption from FMLA, only Sherman/Clayton/antitrust, correct?

 

[Average Reds]

MLB doesn't have an exemption from FMLA, only Sherman/Clayton/antitrust, correct?

 
Given that they are still responsible for his salary, the Marlins aren't in violation of the FMLA.
 
They are a shitty organization, but Salty is (now) a bad ballplayer and that's why he got cut.

 

[Lose Remerswaal]

The Marlins used virtually the same wording in their tweet. This could be read as a signal that they fired him in retaliation for taking paternity leave. That organization just epitomizes class.

 
Wow.  Amazing read of the situation.

 

[GRPhilipp]

 
Wow.  Amazing read of the situation.

I'm not saying I think this is why they cut him. I'm saying the optics are bad (would your employer do it this way?) and they made things worse by posting the two bits of news in literally the same sentence.

 

[The Talented Allen Ripley]

I was dating a girl for a few years and was on the verge of dumping her until her dad was diagnosed terminal cancer. I not only had to stick with her until he passed, but then I had to wait out a nebulous mourning period before pulling the trigger (3 months, in my estimation). That sucked.
 
I feel the Marlins' pain.

 

[Rasputin]

I'm not saying I think this is why they cut him. I'm saying the optics are bad (would your employer do it this way?) and they made things worse by posting the two bits of news in literally the same sentence.

 
You're reaching. When two player transactions come at the same time, they are often put in the same sentence. "Player X was reinstated from the disabled list and assigned to AAA Pawtucket" and so forth. There is precisely nothing weird about their statement.

 

[Drek717]

I'd actually rather the Sox just stuck with Hanigan at this point. I doubt I'm alone in feeling that way either. 

But would you also rather stick with Sandy Leon?  I think that gets into "debatable" territory.  Also, they could try to get Leon through waivers and on the AAA roster as an upgrade over Matt Spring and potentially improve their organizational catcher depth.
 
Buchholz had a damn good 2013 going with Salty catching until he got hurt, doubt he hates throwing to him, so there's at least one game a week you could give him to see if he gets the bat back on track with a return to the AL East/Fenway.
 
Just saying, the Sox are one injury away from a Sandy Leon/Matt Spring tandem or rushing Swihart up, I can't see anyone taking on his contract in any way, and I'd bet he would prefer Boston over the alternatives.  If he clears he would probably be an easy vet minimum signing.  If it's a trade it wouldn't cost anyone of any consequence at all and still cost basically nothing.  Definitely worth kicking the tires.
 
(as a disclaimer I was 100% opposed to re-signing him following 2013, but he's a better bet to not suck if thrust into a majority starter role than Leon or Spring and available for basically nothing.)

 

[MakMan44]

But would you also rather stick with Sandy Leon?  I think that gets into "debatable" territory.  Also, they could try to get Leon through waivers and on the AAA roster as an upgrade over Matt Spring and potentially improve their organizational catcher depth.
 
Buchholz had a damn good 2013 going with Salty catching until he got hurt, doubt he hates throwing to him, so there's at least one game a week you could give him to see if he gets the bat back on track with a return to the AL East/Fenway.
 
Just saying, the Sox are one injury away from a Sandy Leon/Matt Spring tandem or rushing Swihart up, I can't see anyone taking on his contract in any way, and I'd bet he would prefer Boston over the alternatives.  If he clears he would probably be an easy vet minimum signing.  If it's a trade it wouldn't cost anyone of any consequence at all and still cost basically nothing.  Definitely worth kicking the tires.

I disagree. 
 
Salty is not a good back up catcher, because his defense is iffy at best and that's what he'd be right now.
 
I suppose if he doesn't get traded, passes through waivers and would report to AAA, sure, why not? 

 

[AbbyNoho]

Yeah but who knows when he'll have another kid again and just leave the team. You can't trust a guy like that.

 

[GRPhilipp]

 
You're reaching. When two player transactions come at the same time, they are often put in the same sentence. "Player X was reinstated from the disabled list and assigned to AAA Pawtucket" and so forth. There is precisely nothing weird about their statement.

I freely admit to reaching.  I'm also not alone; the guys on the CBS fantasy baseball podcast today said "that's cold!" when they read this news item.  I disagree with your assessment of how weird or un-weird their statement is and I suspect you can find none others like it since MLB implemented paternity leave.
 
I would rather live in a world with more people like The Allented Mr Ripley and fewer people like Jeffrey Loria and his henchmen.  I hope I'm not alone in that sentiment.

 

[E5 Yaz]

I would rather live in a world with fewer people who adhere to the CBS fantasy baseball podcast

 

[Bob Montgomerys Helmet Hat]

 
I would rather live in a world with more people like The Allented Mr Ripley and fewer people like Jeffrey Loria and his henchmen.  I hope I'm not alone in that sentiment.

This just sounds like a terrible world.

 

[The Talented Allen Ripley]

I freely admit to reaching.  I'm also not alone; the guys on the CBS fantasy baseball podcast today said "that's cold!" when they read this news item.  I disagree with your assessment of how weird or un-weird their statement is and I suspect you can find none others like it since MLB implemented paternity leave.
 
I would rather live in a world with more people like The Allented Mr Ripley and fewer people like Jeffrey Loria and his henchmen.  I hope I'm not alone in that sentiment.

 
I like this guy.
 

This just sounds like a terrible world.

 
Hush, you.

 

[Drek717]

I disagree. 
 
Salty is not a good back up catcher, because his defense is iffy at best and that's what he'd be right now.
 
I suppose if he doesn't get traded, passes through waivers and would report to AAA, sure, why not? 

No matter how you term his defense I have a hard time buying that the delta between he and Sandy Leon defensively wins over even the potential offensive delta should Salty revert to 2011-2013 Salty with the bat upon returning to Boston.  For the roughly 60 games they need to spell Hanigan you're talking less than a win of defense.
 
For a quick back of the napkin test Salty, by DRS, has been -31 runs over his career for 5310 innings, so -0.0525 per game.  Hanigan is +14 over 4331 innings, so +0.0291.  This assumes Leon is every bit the defender Hanigan is.  So over the course of 60 or so games in relief of Hanigan Salty would be -3.15 runs to Hanigan's +1.74 runs, for a delta of 4.89 runs.  The usual runs to wins ratio is 10:1, so we're talking a shade under half a win.  Now if we use Sany Leon's nicest projection (Steamer, -4.1 offensive runs over 102 ABs for a -0.040 per AB rate) versus Salty's worst (also Steamer, -4.4 over 294 ABs for a -0.0149 per AB rate), figure 4.5 ABs per game and do that over 60 games we have -10.85 runs for Sandy's offense and -4.023 runs from Salty.  So just over half a win.
 
The most optimistic projection for Sandy and assuming his defense is equal to Hanigan's career up to this point still gives a slight edge to Salty if he posts a .216/.297/.369 slash, the worst of any projection and basically comparable to his last season with the Marlins.
 
This also ignores that Salty was .706 OPS (98 wRC+) last year against RHP (as a LHB) and .600 OPS (67 wRC+) against LHP (as a RHB).  A slightly weaker split than his career average.  So he could be used more selectively against RHP to get an extra LHB in the lineup, further increasing his offensive value.
 
Again, I'm not even a Salty fan, but Sandy Leon isn't worth hording.  Salty is almost definitely a better overall player who would likely look forward to coming here and since a decent chunk of the 2013 club is still around likely fit just fine in the clubhouse.  If he finds his bat on the trip back north it could turn into a big net positive for this club with him as an extra LH bat off the bench.

 

[MakMan44]

Good argument. It doesn't sound like the Sox are interested in a reunion, but I can admit that was an interesting read. 

 

[MentalDisabldLst]

Yeah but who knows when he'll have another kid again and just leave the team. You can't trust a guy like that.

 
Well played.
 
Now we just need a Mike Rowe type to show up and hate on Salty for being a taker, expecting the Marlins to pay him while he sits around on his duff doing nothing.

 

[Doug Beerabelli]

I treat CBS Fantasy Baseball advice like "what would George Costanza Do?" I do like their platform, however.

 

[Kevin Jewkilis]

The flip side to Salty's offense is his shockingly bad defense.  Last year, his poor pitch framing cost the Marlins about 20 runs.  That's before you introduce other elements of catcher defense, where Salty has also been below average.  Salty was born a generation too late for his skill set. As teams learn more about catcher defense and pitch framing, the potential for flashy offensive stats is no longer enough.

 

[bluefenderstrat]

As with Jason Bay, the Sox got Salty's best before he hit the wall. Thanks for 2013!

 

[Plympton91]

The flip side to Salty's offense is his shockingly bad defense.  Last year, his poor pitch framing cost the Marlins about 20 runs.  That's before you introduce other elements of catcher defense, where Salty has also been below average.  Salty was born a generation too late for his skill set. As teams learn more about catcher defense and pitch framing, the potential for flashy offensive stats is no longer enough.

I think the new market inefficiency for teams to exploit is statistical hubris.

The catcher framing fetish is an example of the lamppost fallacy. We've found something we can measure at a position filled with intangibles, and all of a sudden it's getting hugely disproportionate weight.

Buccholz had the best season of his career throwing to Salty, and the Red Sox won a Division title and AL Championship with him as a starting catcher less than 18 months ago. His bat clearly out weighted any defensive shortcomings. Now, that offense was driven by a high BABIP, but If were still living in the era of diminished offense, then his 2014, was perfectly fine for an offensive catcher.

I hardly think he's washed up offensively based on 50 plate appearances this April. He's got to be a bigger asset than Leon, regardless of a stat that says Jose Molina is close to the most valuable catcher in baseball

 

[techsoldaten]

Is it possible Salty just did not fit into their plans with Realmuto waiting in the wings?
 
http://www.fantasypros.com/mlb/news/31493/jt-realmuto-doubles-versus-phillies.php
 
He certainly seems to have some fantasy value.

 

[Rovin Romine]

What are the odds he transitions into a 1B/DH/3rd catcher in the hopes his bat would come around without the regular catching duties dragging it down?  He's always had decent power.  Sort of a Hatteberg/Napoli lite.  

 

[joe dokes]

I think the new market inefficiency for teams to exploit is statistical hubris.

The catcher framing fetish is an example of the lamppost fallacy. We've found something we can measure at a position filled with intangibles, and all of a sudden it's getting hugely disproportionate weight.

Buccholz had the best season of his career throwing to Salty, and the Red Sox won a Division title and AL Championship with him as a starting catcher less than 18 months ago. His bat clearly out weighted any defensive shortcomings. Now, that offense was driven by a high BABIP, but If were still living in the era of diminished offense, then his 2014, was perfectly fine for an offensive catcher.

I hardly think he's washed up offensively based on 50 plate appearances this April. He's got to be a bigger asset than Leon, regardless of a stat that says Jose Molina is close to the most valuable catcher in baseball

 
His 118 OPS+ in 2013 is beginning to look like the outlier.  Now that he's returned to being a below average hitter, he really offers very little. That said,  "better asset than Leon" is a pretty low bar that he might clear.
 
And while you're right about Buchholz and Salt's starting status, he did get moved aside for Ross in October. Maybe he was cooked from a no-backup summer, or maybe they just couldnt live with the defense in the playoffs.  Regardless, it was pretty clear the Sox opinion of him wasn't very high by November 2013.

 

[kenneycb]

He got benched because he wasn't hitting. In 35 PAs he had a .188 average with a 19/3 K/BB. He also struck out in 12 of his final 24 PAs with only 3 hits and 2 BBs. He was a mess at that point.

 

[mauf]

I think the new market inefficiency for teams to exploit is statistical hubris.
 

 
I checked last season and was shocked to discover that team defense, as measured by advanced metrics, was a better predictor of team success than either OPS or ERA.
 
That doesn't mean that defense is more important than hitting or pitching. It might not even mean that advanced metrics do a good job at measuring defense. It does, however, strongly suggest that teams that rely heavily on advanced metrics continue to enjoy a competitive advantage, more than a decade after Moneyball. So I'm glad to see the Red Sox leaning in on cutting-edge stats like catcher framing.

 

[BroodsSexton]

I think the new market inefficiency for teams to exploit is statistical hubris.

The catcher framing fetish is an example of the lamppost fallacy. We've found something we can measure at a position filled with intangibles, and all of a sudden it's getting hugely disproportionate weight.

Buccholz had the best season of his career throwing to Salty, and the Red Sox won a Division title and AL Championship with him as a starting catcher less than 18 months ago. His bat clearly out weighted any defensive shortcomings. Now, that offense was driven by a high BABIP, but If were still living in the era of diminished offense, then his 2014, was perfectly fine for an offensive catcher.

I hardly think he's washed up offensively based on 50 plate appearances this April. He's got to be a bigger asset than Leon, regardless of a stat that says Jose Molina is close to the most valuable catcher in baseball

 
I don't even know what this means.  Could you explain your thesis of how one would "exploit statistical hubris"?  Is the idea that you look for guys who have inferior statistics, and pay them more than the statistical analysis would suggest they are worth?

 

[Plympton91]

 
I don't even know what this means.  Could you explain your thesis of how one would "exploit statistical hubris"?  Is the idea that you look for guys who have inferior statistics, and pay them more than the statistical analysis would suggest they are worth?

 
I gave one example in the post - the lamppost fallacy -- elevating the worth of things you can measure solely because you can measure them.   Understanding the second moments of the distributions you're measuring would be another good place to start.  I always get a kick out of the idea that UZR is of paramount importance, but it doesn't stabilize until you have 3 years of data, across which a player might have played in 3 separate defensive schemes and played through 2 leg injuries for weeks at a time.  Not placing a whole lot of weight on a statistic that says Jose Molina was the most valuable player in baseball in 2013, would be a third.

 

[BroodsSexton]

 
I gave one example in the post - the lamppost fallacy -- elevating the worth of things you can measure solely because you can measure them.   Understanding the second moments of the distributions you're measuring would be another good place to start.  I always get a kick out of the idea that UZR is of paramount importance, but it doesn't stabilize until you have 3 years of data, across which a player might have played in 3 separate defensive schemes and played through 2 leg injuries for weeks at a time.  Not placing a whole lot of weight on a statistic that says Jose Molina was the most valuable player in baseball in 2013, would be a third.

 
My apologies, maybe I was just reading too much into your initial post, but I thought you were proposing a coherent way of making the team better, by means of employing a particular method in evaluating and acquiring talent, (i.e., "exploiting statistical hubris"). If what you're saying is that there are limits to the use of advanced metrics, and that all of the information has to be taken into account when arriving at a valuation, that seems less interesting (but also less controversial...and not really "exploiting statistical hubris").