After a breakout campaign in 2011, Saltalamacchia — who split at-bats with Jason Varitek — is penciled in to start behind the plate again. But even with his 16-homer, 56-RBI effort last year, he may be forced to platoon alongside Kelly Shoppach or Ryan Lavarnway.
Although Saltalamacchia is ready for that possibility, the Red Sox catcher's sights are on snatching the starting spot full time in 2012.
"I'm preparing myself for 140, 160 games," Saltalamacchia said, speaking at the Jimmy Fund event on Saturday. "I don't want to prepare myself for 80 or 100. I want to be ready and catch as many as I can."
He's already received a vote of confidence from the Red Sox. The team came to terms with Saltalamacchia on Sunday, agreeing to a one-year, non-guaranteed contract to avoid arbitration. WEEI.com reports the deal is for $2.5 million.
The payday marks another step in Saltalamacchia's progression. Before appearing in a career-high 103 games last season, the former first-round pick of the 2003 draft had played in 157 total games from 2008-10.
In addition to his offensive improvement, Saltalamacchia made strides defensively, throwing out 28 base stealers in 2011. When Bobby Valentine visited with him earlier in the offseason, the Red Sox' skipper took note of the catcher's confidence.
"When you have 50 extra-base hits and you have 16 home runs and you drive in some runs, you kind of have that now as an offensive foundation," Valentine said. "When you get to catch 100-plus games with a certain staff in a certain city, you have that as a foundation.
"Talking with him, it seems like he's in a really good place where he is. I think he's in a place where just about every baseball player wants to be in, where he's got a chance of establishing himself as a very good player."
But Valentine added there's still room for improvement. As Saltalamacchia enters his second full season in Boston, he is tasked with the responsibility of learning the pitching staff's tendencies to perfection.
Despite the homework looming ahead, the 26-year-old is looking forward to the challenge, which includes aiding Daniel Bard's transition from reliever to starter.
"With his stuff, you can compare it to a [Justin] Verlander — a guy that throws that hard," Saltalamacchia said. "His secondary stuff and third [pitch] changeup is a really good pitch and he's consistently able to throw it for strikes. I think he'll be a key to our success this year."
Saltamacchia's impact could be just as critical. But after a lackluster September, he is at a comfortable weight — to improve his conditioning — and is ready to usher the Red Sox pitching staff into a new catching era.
"This year, I feel a little more like I can say a few things, kind of express myself," Saltalamacchia said. "I know the AL East a little bit more than I did in the past and I feel a little better in that sense."
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