Red Sox Reached Out To 2013 World Series Champ About Joining Coaching Staff

BOURNE, Mass. -- The Red Sox coaching staff features several former MLB players who once suited up for Boston during their playing days.

Of course, manager Alex Cora had a stint playing with the Red Sox. So did pitching coach Andrew Bailey. Game planning coordinator and catching coach Jason Varitek grew into stardom with the franchise and even chief baseball officer Craig Breslow won a World Series in 2013 pitching for the organization.

Jarrod Saltalamacchia was teammates with Bailey, Varitek and Breslow during his time with the Red Sox from 2010 to 2013. And it's not out of the realm of possibility that Saltalamacchia, who coaches high school baseball in Florida and is in his third season as an assistant coach for the Bourne Braves of the prestigious Cape Cod Baseball League, one day joins that trio and takes a place on the Red Sox coaching staff.

"I had a few teams reach out to me," Saltalamacchia told NESN.com. "But it's one of those things where there's guys that have been in the minor league system for a long time, 20, 30 years that aren't getting the opportunities and they deserve it. Even guys who have a lot of time, they are going to have to go through the ropes.

"They reached out to me and asked me if it's something I'd like to do. And I've always told them at the big-league level I'd love to, but I'm not wanting to go on the minor league side of things right now. I spent 17 years away from my family, so I don't want to be another 17 years away in the minors going all over the place."

The Red Sox aren't the only MLB team to show interest in the former 12-year big leaguer. Saltalamacchia said the Washington Nationals, Kansas City Royals, Texas Rangers and Arizona Diamondbacks have also contacted him about possible coaching gigs in their organizations.

Saltalamacchia, at the moment, is content with where he is and said he would prefer to coach in the Division I college ranks than the pros since it would give him the opportunity to coach up younger players. But he won't close any doors.

"There would be an opportunity (in MLB) if I probably called them and said, 'Hey listen, I'm ready,'" Saltalamacchia said. "But I'm just not at that point."

If the time ever does come that Saltalamacchia wants to be a part of an MLB coaching staff, he knows the first team he will call.

"Obviously in my world, an ideal situation would be back with Boston because I loved it," Saltalamacchia said. "We won a World Series there. I'm comfortable there. Eventually, maybe one day, that spot will open. We'll see."