January 15, 2012
Red Sox sign Saltalamacchia, Sweeney
by PR/Wire Report/
The Boston Red Sox have agreed to terms with catcher Jarrod Saltalamacchia and outfielder Ryan Sweeney on one-year, non-guaranteed contracts for the 2012 season, avoiding salary arbitration. Terms were not disclosed.
The 26-year-old Saltalamacchia appeared in 103 games for Boston in 2011, including 101 contests (96 starts) at catcher. He ranked third among American Leaguers at the position with a .452 slugging percentage and was fourth among that group with 42 extra-base hits and a .741 OPS.
Overall, he set single-season career highs last year in games, at-bats (358), runs (52), hits (84), doubles (23), triples (3), home runs (16), extra-base hits (42), RBI (56), slugging percentage (.450) and OPS (.737). He placed third among AL backstops and set a career best with 28 runners caught attempting to steal, the most by a Red Sox since Jason Varitek in 2002 (29).
Sweeney, 26, hit .265 (70-for-264) with 11 doubles, three triples, one home run, 25 RBI, 34 runs scored and 33 walks in 108 games with the Athletics in 2011, appearing at all three outfield positions and designated hitter. The left-handed hitter batted at a .286 clip (63-for-220) off right-handers last season. He did not commit an error in 153 total chances in the outfield, his second straight errorless campaign (also 153 chances in 2010).
The Red Sox acquired Sweeney from the Oakland Athletics with right-handed pitcher Andrew Bailey on Dec. 28 in exchange for outfielder Josh Reddick and minor leaguers right-handed pitcher Raul Alcantara and first baseman Miles Head.
