What's Saltalamacchia worth?

by nevin on May 2, 2007 12:21 AM EDT

Braves badly need to replace Mark Redman in the rotation. Solid move, JS, getting a starter for cheap when you had nothing but $10 and a sick Hampton, but its not working and its wearing out the pen. Got me thinking about what Salty's worth. Switch hitting catcher with power and contact, with mostly good but not glowing reviews of his defense. He's hitting .312/.404/.623 at AA so far, in 77 ABs.

What's he worth? Realistically, what trades might be possible, (though of course he's going nowhere fast). Yovanni Gollardo from the Brewers seems a good fit to me, but I want to know what other people think. Which side comes out ahead there? And should one side sweeten it to even it up? If Milwaukee offered us Gollardo plus a low A so-and-so, I think you've gotta make the deal, and that it helps both teams. Always tough to give up pitching, but to me, with the depth of pitching Milwaukee already has, to be able to add an impact bat 12-18 months from ML ready makes it a reasonable match, and seems to me there aren't many out there.

What's the hive mind think?

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Well

Personally I don't think Salty has value close to Gallardo. Young cheap pitching is at a premium, and Gallardo is a future ace.

I think Salty has more value to the Braves right now than to any other team. I don't think any other team will give up what the Bravos want.

by doublestix on May 2, 2007 12:26 AM EDT reply actions

With the Braves having McCann

Salty is definitely not worth more to the Braves than anybody else. However you are right when you say he isn't worth Gallardo.

by TRanger on May 2, 2007 12:36 AM EDT up reply actions

worded it wrong

Yea you are right in that assessment. I meant that I don't think teams will give up what Salty is really worth now, knowing that the Braves don't have much leverage in any deal.

by doublestix on May 2, 2007 12:41 AM EDT up reply actions

Impartial Brewers Fan

Never in a million years would the Brewers consider trading Gallardo for Salty. I do like Salty and think he has loads of potential. But, as has been said, cheap young pitching is about the most valuable commodity in baseball. I could see something like Vargas and a mid-level prospect or maybe Villanueva straight up.

More realistically, though, I don't see the Brewers trading young pitching for catching while we have Johnny Estrada providing numbers well above league average, Damian Miller providing veteran backup, and quite possibly the strongest AAA catching duo in baseball in JD Closser and Mike Rivera (Rivera has been weak so far though he raked last year, but Closser is looking very strong again.)

by DaleCoop14 on May 2, 2007 2:40 PM EDT up reply actions

why would

the brewers trade a better prospect in gallardo plus another prospect for salty

salty is worth alot, but not a gallardo esque type prospect

by bmxstreetrider86 on May 2, 2007 12:27 AM EDT reply actions

OF

I'm predicting A.Jones is not a member of the Braves next year because of the trend with their salaries.

I would think a move for Baldelli would be the move to make. Perfect trade for both teams.

by pedrophile on May 2, 2007 12:44 AM EDT reply actions

yeah

as a devil rays fan who lives in minnesota,
i have wondered if there is a shot that rocco is traded here. i really don't see torii returning, but atlanta is another place i wouldn't doubt rocco ends up.

by god allah star on May 2, 2007 12:45 AM EDT up reply actions

I don't

think TR would trade the young Pitching he would need to for him. I would be very interested in what the Rays would want for him though.

1941 .406

by FrozenTed9 on May 2, 2007 1:06 AM EDT up reply actions

good point

he probably wouldn't,
i just think the twins and braves are the two most obvious teams who will need a center fielder next year. both have their share of prospects as well.

by god allah star on May 2, 2007 1:44 AM EDT up reply actions

re

equally interesting to see what teams would be willing to trade for him. Always injured, already been injured this year. He is about as reliable as a Ford Probe.

by ScottAZ on May 2, 2007 11:23 AM EDT up reply actions

hammy problems

both Ricky Henderson and Edgar Martinez had recurring hamstring problems and made nice careers of it.

Baldelli will have to listen to his body and occasionally miss games to stay healthy. But it's totally manageable.

by pedrophile on May 2, 2007 12:19 PM EDT up reply actions

re

Well, he has only been in the game for 3 years and has missed time due to his knee, elbow, bicep, as well as his extensive hamstring problems. Seems like a huge risk to me, especially since we're not talking about the same return that the A's got with Rickey and the Mariners got with Edgar. ANy more leg problems and Baldelli could lose his real value, that being a CFer. His numbers are good for a CFer, very average for a corner man.

by ScottAZ on May 2, 2007 2:31 PM EDT up reply actions

time will tell

But the elbow/bicep was from the TJ after the freak accident that did his knee in.

If he continues to have knee problems I'd be very worried. But right now it's just the hammy problems. I'm sure this could become a chronic problem, I don't see it as one right now.

by pedrophile on May 2, 2007 3:46 PM EDT up reply actions

maybe

saltalamacchia and someone for harden?

jojo?

kala seems like an oakland type guy

by god allah star on May 2, 2007 12:44 AM EDT reply actions

subject

i doubt the A's are looking for a catcher. Suzuki seems to be a perfect fit for them. not to mention Powell is lurking around to.

by Josh @ Minor League Ball on May 2, 2007 11:44 AM EDT up reply actions

Gallardo...

isn't happening. If you are thinking prospect, the Hochevar/Adenhart class is more like it. I don't think the Braves will be thinking prospect though, they're offense is really, really good with the emergence of Kelly Johnson, health of Larry, no letdown from McCann and Francoeur not being selfish and really improving his approach...they are a serious WS candidate. I've heard Zambrano mentioned, that seems like a good fit (obviously depending on the Cubs resigning him and/or being in contention). Salty could also return the other big name who is said to be on the market, Dontrelle Willis, which would work for both parties I think.

Ballllllly Sta®

by uga007 on May 2, 2007 12:47 AM EDT reply actions

yeah

those prospect-for-prospect deals never seem to actually happen. if salty is traded for pitching it's likely to be for an established starter from a team looking to offload salary or get return on an impending free agent.

by wily mo on May 2, 2007 12:53 AM EDT up reply actions

Salty

I don't think Salty gets traded for a rental. The Braves are on enough of a fixed budget that they need to extract some long-term value from any deal involving Salty...

by MPK on May 2, 2007 2:12 AM EDT reply actions

Francoeur

People keep dreaming the D-Rays will trade Rocco, who is an excellent player, but IF the Braves lose Andrew Jones, and that is a big IF, I think the Braves already have his replacement in Jeff Francoeur, who is an excellent RF but could be a gold glover in CF also because he has good speed, great instincts and great arm and is an excellent athlete.
They could probably move Salty to 1B or LF, but Schuelhotz is enough smart not to trade him on the cheap.

by LCT on May 2, 2007 8:28 AM EDT reply actions

He's not a...

GG caliber corner OF, but you think he can be a GG CF? Ummmm, no. Francoeur is no center fielder.

Ballllllly Sta®

by uga007 on May 2, 2007 1:32 PM EDT up reply actions

Salty

Word has it from another board that Salty was called up today due to injuries incurred to both there backstops last night. Sounds like one is going on the DL. This could change Saltys value big time.

by 525DP on May 2, 2007 11:41 AM EDT reply actions

Call up

That is a rumor based on Sports Talk radio. If it is true, I believe it will only increase his value. If he rakes, then his value goes up, moreso than vice versa.

I don't think he stays up, though.

by parish on May 2, 2007 11:56 AM EDT up reply actions

reports thusfar unconfirmed

Apparently, it was Bill Shanks on a radio program who claimed that Salty was on his was to Atlanta, but thus far, there's been nothing on the Braves' beatwriter's blog other than he doesn't know whether it's Salty or Corky Miller who has been called up with Brayan Pena going on the 15-day DL.

To be honest, I wouldn't be surprised to see it go either way, given the way McCann was brought up. Still, either way it won't be a prolonged stint, and if McCann was 100%, I'm not sure Pena would have even been DLed.

by mraver on May 2, 2007 12:01 PM EDT up reply actions

Gallardo?

I'd want three Salties for Gallardo. A potential ace at Triple-A is worth infinitely more than a catcher with a great bat but fringy defense. I'm not saying Salty is bad, more that Gallardo is basically priceless.

by MontrealMets on May 2, 2007 12:57 PM EDT reply actions

Everyone here....

....seems to be echoing the same sentiment: Nothing's more valuable than good young pitching, and Gallardo's worth a lot more than Salty.

I don't disagree that good young pitching is one of the most valuable commodities in the game. The problem is, you have to be sure you have it for it to be valuable.

If both Salty and Gallardo pan out, Gallardo's much more valuable, if for no other reason than that he'll be a cheap top-of-the-rotation starting pitcher. But TINSTAAPP is a killer, and Salty stands a much better chance of panning out, even at this "late" stage of development for Gallardo. Given that, in terms of ACTUAL value, I would imagine Saltalamacchia has a much higher expected rate of return to a big-league club. The only argument I can see for NOT trading Yovanni for Saltalamacchia is that other GMs may valuate pitching prospects the way people on this thread have, and thus Yovanni could be traded for EVEN MORE value.

If I were a general manager, I'm pretty sure I would attempt to trade all my pitching prospects for hitting prospects, and then use all the money I saved on hitters to over-pay on the free agent market for a rotation. Even if I lost a few future aces in Liriano-like trades, I'd end up way ahead if other GMs are willing to give me roughly equal "value" (as based on ordinal ranking in top 100 prospect lists) trading me a hitting prospect.

by bleedjaxblue on May 2, 2007 2:52 PM EDT reply actions

TINSTAAPP...

What does the acroynym stand for? Thanks...

"Now I know - and knowing is half the battle." -G.I. Joe

by Savoy Special on May 2, 2007 11:51 PM EDT reply actions

Answer

There Is No Such Thing As A Pitching Prospect

by rhd on May 3, 2007 11:46 PM EDT up reply actions

Thanks, rhd...

...I guess I'm f@cked if I currently own (and hold out any hope for): Hughes, Lincecum and Andrew Miller. I was also contemplating picking up Clayton Kershaw - but seeing as though hitters seem to be fulfill their promise moreso than top, young pitchers...maybe I should change my strategy.

"Now I know - and knowing is half the battle." -G.I. Joe

by Savoy Special on May 4, 2007 12:57 AM EDT reply actions