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The Boston Red Sox have made a two-year offer to catcher Jarrod Saltalamacchia, according to Jon Heyman of CBSSports.com. Heyman writes that the offer is likely for less than $10 million for year, which is probably not of much interest to the 28-year old catcher.
According to Buster Olney of ESPN.com, the Sox have made offers to a few catchers on the free agent market. They are known to have interest in Brian McCann, A.J. Pierzynski and Carlos Ruiz, but reports on Tuesday indicated that they were not the team who extended a two-year, $20 million offer to Ruiz.
A source confirms that Ruiz has multiple offers, and reports indicate that the Phillies and Blue Jays remain interested in signing the 35-year old.
Saltalamacchia, who hit .273 with 14 HR and 65 RBI in 121 games for the World Champion Red Sox in 2013, is known to be seeking a three- or four-year deal on the free agent market. He is expected to command at least a three-year deal on the market, and early interest from teams like the Blue Jays and Twins should help him have leverage in talks with the Red Sox.
While he is unlikely to accept their two-year offer, the sides are likely to continue talking until Saltalamacchia signs somewhere or the Sox decide on an another option for the backstop position.