Red Sox inquire about Rangers catchers

[elsrbueno]

From boston.com

Last updated: 11/08
Red Sox look at Rangers catchers
According to the Dallas Morning News, the Red Sox have inquired about the Rangers' catching situation. Texas traded for Jarrod Saltalamacchia last season, and he and Gerald Laird split time behind the plate. It was unclear from the report which catcher the Red Sox were interested in. The 27-year-old Laird, who led the AL in throwing out baserunners, hit .224 with nine homers in 120 games last season. Saltalamacchia, 22, hit .266 with 11 homers and 33 RBIs last season. According to the Dallas Morning News, the Rangers are looking at center fielders, and the Red Sox just so happen to have Coco Crisp available

It would seem like a long shot to me, but if the Red Sox could acquire Saltalamaccia in a Coco Crisp deal this would (IMO) be the best option. I'm a big Coco Crisp fan, but Jarrod is a nice offensive young catcher who I've read is a little underrated defensively.

[HeadOfSoxNation]

Originally Posted by elsrbueno

From boston.com


It would seem like a long shot to me, but if the Red Sox could acquire Saltalamaccia in a Coco Crisp deal this would (IMO) be the best option. I'm a big Coco Crisp fan, but Jarrod is a nice offensive young catcher who I've read is a little underrated defensively.

No way the Rangers give up Salty in a Crisp deal...he was the main piece in the Tex deal, and a Tex/Crisp deal would have been laughed at.

Don't get me wrong...I'd love it, but it's just not going to happen without us sweetening the deal substantially.

[Jayhawk Bill]

Originally Posted by HeadOfSoxNation

No way the Rangers give up Salty in a Crisp deal...he was the main piece in the Tex deal, and a Tex/Crisp deal would have been laughed at.

Don't get me wrong...I'd love it, but it's just not going to happen without us sweetening the deal substantially.

I respectfully disagree. Check the Official 07 Offseason Thread, where I've posted a few pages' worth of data regarding the comparative values of the two players. In a nutshell, Coco's great defense and Salty's lousy defense make this much closer than it seems if one just looks at batting stats, and Salty was only about 50% of the value that Texas got for just 1.33 years of Teixeira--Crisp is cost-controlled through 2010, not 2008.

[ksushi]

Salty is regarded very highly by the Rangers, they figure he is going to turn into the next Texiera out there. He has a ton of power potential. I guarentee those talks were Laird for Coco, not Salty. I think we can do a little better unless they send prospects our way too. Besides, nothing will happen on that front until Torrii Hunter makes up his mind.

[Jayhawk Bill]

Originally Posted by ksushi

Salty is regarded very highly by the Rangers, they figure he is going to turn into the next Texiera out there. He has a ton of power potential. I guarentee those talks were Laird for Coco, not Salty. I think we can do a little better unless they send prospects our way too. Besides, nothing will happen on that front until Torrii Hunter makes up his mind.

Maybe, but Coco for Laird is way too much value to lose.

If the Rangers won't deal Salty, I'd consider asking the Rangers if they'd consider including Taylor Teagarden with Laird. Teagarden is a young catching prospect who split time between hitters' leagues in A/AA this year, but he sure did hit:

Teagarden ran into injury problems and missed practically the entire 2006 season after undergoing Tommy John surgery. Still somewhat limited by his injury this year, Teagarden caught nearly one-third of his games and DHed the others. His defense remained as solid as ever and his arm strength appeared to improve as the season progressed. But the story for Teagarden in 2007 was his offense. The 23-year-old displayed the ability to hit for average (.310) and power (27 home runs) with solid plate discipline (75 walks) in 110 games between High-A Bakersfield and Double-A Frisco. Teagarden struggled to make contact at times – racking up 128 strikeouts, including 39 in 102 Double-A at bats, but he should hit enough to be an everyday catcher in the majors.

http://rangers.scout.com/2/686465.html

Teagarden is older than Salty, so his prospect value is diminished, and he was only able to catch about a third of his games, so the aftereffects of his surgery are still an issue. The Rangers want more MLB-ready talent: if they'd consider a guy such as David Pauley, Bryce Cox or Craig Breslow along with Crisp to balance things, this might be a workable deal. Teagarden is a question mark and he's blocked by Salty, but he's a good hitter with good strike-zone discipline who can call a game well. The issue is that he's got no experience above AA and his injuries are a question--if not for that, the Rangers wouldn't need Salty.

[jacksonianmarch]

Teagarden for Pauley. I can see it now, lol.

Why would anyone want Pauley?

[ANiMAL]

Originally Posted by jacksonianmarch

Teagarden for Pauley. I can see it now, lol.

Why would anyone want Pauley?

He did hold the "Dangerous" Yankee lineup to 2 runs in 6.2 innings in 2006. Other than that....

[Jayhawk Bill]

Originally Posted by jacksonianmarch

Teagarden for Pauley. I can see it now, lol.

Why would anyone want Pauley?

My point is that Crisp is worth far more than Laird. I suggested Teagarden, a derailed prospect unable to catch two-thirds of his games who's still in High-A/AA at 23 because he lost a year to injury, to make up the difference.

Originally Posted by Kevin Goldstein

Teagarden’s elbow is still not full healthy after last year’s Tommy John surgery, and he’s played more DH than catcher at Frisco. If he can get healthy enough to catch every day, he’s one helluva prospect. If he can’t, he’s a bat without a position.

http://www.baseballprospectus.com/ar...articleid=6584

Pauley was one of three pitchers mentioned as MLB-ready to balance out the trade--I expect that Texas would want a little more than Coco Crisp for both Laird and Teagarden. Pauley's MLB-ready. He's roughly a 4/5 starter with an excellent GB% (55% in 2007).

http://www.minorleaguesplits.com/cgi...wIL&bp=p&bip=1

Texas desperately needs pitching arms--Pauley offers roughly 100 quality IP each season:

Scouting Report: Pauley mixes an excellent sinker with a low 90s fastball with good movement, a good changeup, and a top-notch curveball. Has 4th or 5th starter potential. Has been very consistent in recent seasons, with some flashes of brilliance. Seems to fade out late in August and September. Needs to improve his control somewhat.

http://www.soxprospects.com/players/pauley-dave.htm

Pre-season Pauley projected to be a guy who'd peak at an ERA of about 5.25 in MLB.

http://www.baseballprospectus.com/pecota/pauleda01.php

Nothing he's done in 2007 suggests any big change to that.

Three of Texas's five starting pitchers had ERAs higher than that in 2007--I think that David Pauley is definitely a pitcher who could help the Texas Rangers.

Pauley = Teagarden? No, I never posted that. Crisp and Pauley ~ Laird and Teagarden? Yes: Texas fills two slots (CF and fifth starter) for their second-best catcher and a blocked prospect with injury questions.

[playjacoby46]

i wouldnt mind laird for a backup and possibly the future at catcher for us. i know hes struggles with the bat but he does have some pop. but can he catch the knuckleball???