1B - time to decide on 1B for 2013

[Nomar]

I was fully aware of this, I didn't bring it up because I still don't think it's a big enough sample size. Guess we'll see if Mauro gets AB's this year.

In the MLB redraft where did we find minor league splits? Because I remember we did so with Rizzo before we drafted him to make sure we didnt need a platoon. If a player has played in the MLB then you cant see them on MiLB.com

[AI.]

I think it was Baseball America, but it only shows you the splits for his most recent minor league season.

So, it's still a 1 year sample.

[Seguin]

The reason Salty hasn't been traded is because he won't be traded. He can play C, 1b, and dh... All 3 are positions with health/talent question marks. He'll be on the team opening day and its more likely Lavarnway isnt

[jn6474]

The reason Salty hasn't been traded is because he won't be traded. He can play C, 1b, and dh... All 3 are positions with health/talent question marks. He'll be on the team opening day and its more likely Lavarnway isnt

No the reason Saltalamacchia hasnt been traded is because nobody will pay the price they are looking for to deal him away.

[ruckus16969]

Salty hadnt been traded because there hasnt been resolution to the Napoli deal. Simple.

[RedSoxtober]

In the MLB redraft where did we find minor league splits? Because I remember we did so with Rizzo before we drafted him to make sure we didnt need a platoon. If a player has played in the MLB then you cant see them on MiLB.com

Try MiLB.com

[bagwell368]

The reason Salty hasn't been traded is because he won't be traded. He can play C, 1b, and dh... All 3 are positions with health/talent question marks. He'll be on the team opening day and its more likely Lavarnway isnt

Below average hitting DH/1B are not that difficult to obtain. Awful game calling catchers are not that hard to find either. If the Sox were serious about winning, he'd likely be gone. If Salty plays regularly at DH or 1B, than there is no reason for Lavarnway not to be a member of the catching tandem.

Long term Lavarnway will be here and Salty will be gone.

So far to date after signing a contract for a MLB team Lavarnway has well outpaced Salty's progress, and the Sox have 5 more years of control with Lavarnway and just one year with Salty.

[Crucis]

Salty hasn't been traded because there hasn't been a resolution to the Napoli deal. Simple.

I won't say that that's the one and only reason, but I agree that it's probably a big reason why the Sox are hesitant to move him. But I think that you're on the money that if and after Napoli gets signed, Salty becomes much more expendable.

[RedSoxtober]

Below average hitting DH/1B are not that difficult to obtain. Awful game calling catchers are not that hard to find either. If the Sox were serious about winning, he'd likely be gone. If Salty plays regularly at DH or 1B, than there is no reason for Lavarnway not to be a member of the catching tandem.

Long term Lavarnway will be here and Salty will be gone.

So far to date after signing a contract for a MLB team Lavarnway has well outpaced Salty's progress, and the Sox have 5 more years of control with Lavarnway and just one year with Salty.

Completely agree. It's far more likely that Salty hangs around only until a contender has an injury at C. Suggesting that he stays over Lavarnway is also ignoring the reason they signed David Ross.

[Nomar]

Completely agree. It's far more likely that Salty hangs around only until a contender has an injury at C. Suggesting that he stays over Lavarnway is also ignoring the reason they signed David Ross.

Exactly. I think it's clear that the Red Sox are done with letting Salty call games. Our pitching has been a disgrace with him catching and he doesnt make an impact with his offense. We wouldn't have signed a top notch backup if we weren't ready to give young Lavarnway the reigns.

[AI.]

I'm not sure they are giving him the reigns because I think Ross will play much more than the normal backup but I do agree with the sentiment that Lavarnway stays and Salty is a goner.

[Nomar]

What I meant was that they want Lavarnway to succeed and be the catcher of the future.

[bagwell368]

I'm not sure they are giving him the reigns because I think Ross will play much more than the normal backup but I do agree with the sentiment that Lavarnway stays and Salty is a goner.

I think the issue is when we are talking:

In '13 Ross getting 3/5 and Lavarnway 2/5 is fine. Lavarnway with Salty at 1B, and Gomez or better behind him means that Lavarnway can PH w/o worrying about an injury to Ross being an issue, or visa versa.

In '14, Salty is liable to be gone, and there is plenty of room for Ross and Lavarnway. No serious help from the Minors can be expected earlier than the final stages of '14 at the latest (Swihart).

In '15 it figures to be Lavarnway w/ Swihart as the back-up if he's ready and he's still a C - since Ross's contract is over in '14, and he'll be 38 in March '15. If Swihart isn't ready to go, then another FA catcher.

No matter how you slice it, Lavarnway figures to catch more games over the next 3 years than any other player.

[RedSoxtober]

In '15 it figures to be Lavarnway w/ Swihart as the back-up if he's ready and he's still a C - since Ross's contract is over in '14, and he'll be 38 in March '15. If Swihart isn't ready to go, then another FA catcher.

I wouldn't be surprised to see Vazquez as the short term backup in 2015, giving more time for Swihart/Weems to develop. Both need to add a lot of mass before they've got the frame for a MLB catcher.

[bagwell368]

I wouldn't be surprised to see Vazquez as the short term backup in 2015, giving more time for Swihart/Weems to develop. Both need to add a lot of mass before they've got the frame for a MLB catcher.

That's sounds right.