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Detroit Tigers sign Jarrod Saltalamacchia as backup catcher
NASHVILLE -- The Detroit Tigers have signed catcher Jarrod Saltalamacchia to a one-year deal, adding a backup catcher with a left-handed bat in the absence of former backup Alex Avila, who recently signed with the Chicago White Sox as a free agent.
Tigers general manager Al Avila had already been one of the busiest executives in the weeks leading up to MLB's winter meetings, and Sunday night the team made official another pair of signings.
"The opportunity came to be able to sign Jarrod, obviously we like his pop from the left side. We think that is going to play. We'll see how that turns out in spring training," Al Avila said in a news briefing with reporters from the club's suite at the Gaylord Opryland hotel in Nashville.
Saltalamacchia's deal is for the major league minimum salary, Avila said.
The 30-year-old Saltalamacchia, who appeared in 79 games last season while playing for the Miami Marlins and the Arizona Diamondbacks, has a .240 career batting average with 346 runs, 98 home runs and 343 RBIs.
Tigers general manager Al Avila had already been one of the busiest executives in the weeks leading up to MLB's winter meetings, and Sunday night the team made official another pair of signings.
"The opportunity came to be able to sign Jarrod, obviously we like his pop from the left side. We think that is going to play. We'll see how that turns out in spring training," Al Avila said in a news briefing with reporters from the club's suite at the Gaylord Opryland hotel in Nashville.
Saltalamacchia's deal is for the major league minimum salary, Avila said.
The 30-year-old Saltalamacchia, who appeared in 79 games last season while playing for the Miami Marlins and the Arizona Diamondbacks, has a .240 career batting average with 346 runs, 98 home runs and 343 RBIs.