Major League Baseball

2010 MLB PLAYOFFS;ALCS NOTEBOOK;No tears shed for Salty;Texas GM discusses breakup with catcher

Published Oct. 19, 2010 10:10 p.m. ET

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NEW YORK - Occasionally, when he discusses catcher Jarrod Saltalamacchia's tenure in Texas, Jon Daniels sounds more like a marriage counselor than the general manager of the Rangers.

And in deciding to trade Saltalamacchia to the Red Sox on July 31, Daniels applied a version of this commonly followed principle: If you love something, set it free.

''He's a very highly touted player. He has all the talent in the world. He's a good person from a good family,'' Daniels said last night before Game 3 of the ALCS between his Rangers and the New York Yankees. ''It's just that sometimes you reach a point in the relationship where you need a fresh start. You have to do right by the player, too, and we thought he probably had a better chance of success somewhere else.''

Thus, after sending Saltalamacchia to Triple A in April to work through throwing problems that stemmed from a shoulder injury and bypassing him for call-ups in May and June, Daniels dealt the switch hitter to the Sox for three minor leaguers.

Saltalamacchia, 25, batted only .158 in 10 games for the Red Sox, but he was playing through a torn ligament in his thumb that required season-ending surgery in late September. The Sox believe he will figure into their catching mix next season, although it isn't clear if they already view him as a starter.

Rather than promoting Saltalamacchia, the Rangers made several other catching moves, including calling up Taylor Teagarden and Max Ramirez before trading for veteran Bengie Molina. Daniels said the club was open to giving Saltalamacchia a chance to compete for a job during spring training, but instead recognized an opportunity to acquire a few young players for him.

''(Red Sox general manager) Theo (Epstein) had always had interest in him, and he did a good job of following up on it with us,'' Daniels said. ''We just saw it as an opportunity to give him a fresh start and give ourselves to get a few young players that we really like.''

A.J.'s on

During his pregame press conference, Yankees manager Joe Girardi was asked if there's any chance he would change his mind and start ace CC Sabathia on short rest tonight instead of the embattled A.J. Burnett. Girardi left no doubt that Burnett will start.

''We are on rotation,'' Girardi said. ''That's probably the easiest way for me to put it.''

Burnett, in only the second season of a five-year, $82.5 million contract, went 10-15 with a 5.26 ERA in 33 starts and didn't pitch in the Division Series against the Minnesota Twins. Since June 4, he's 4-13 with a 6.48 ERA. He has slipped behind Sabathia, Phil Hughes and Andy Pettitte in the rotation, and the right-hander said he's aware of the many doubters who wonder if he can beat the Rangers.

''To be honest with you, I hear it everywhere, but I'm not really paying attention to it,'' Burnett said. ''I was told when I was pitching, and I was preparing to pitch until told otherwise. I know a lot of things have been written. I don't read a lot. I don't dig into it too much. But I do go off with everyday people I meet at breakfast and lunch and stuff, and it's been nothing but positive toward me.''

In a Flash

Former Red Sox closer and Yankees set-up man Tom Gordon was at Yankee Stadium working for Sirius XM radio. Gordon remains friendly with many Yankees players, including closer Mariano Rivera, with whom he said he talks on the phone several times per month. . . .

Outfielder Marcus Thames' walkoff, two-run home run against Red Sox closer Jonathan Papelbon on May 17 was rated as the second-best moment of the Yankees' season, according to a highlight video on the center field scoreboard.

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