Jerry Crasnick of ESPN.com reports that the Marlins were not able to find a trade for catcher Jarrod Saltalamacchia after designating him for assignment last week, meaning they will outright release him.
Miami cut Saltalamacchia loose with about $15 million remaining on a three-year, $21 million deal signed last offseason, handing the starting job to rookie J.T. Realmuto (who has hit just .232 with a .571 OPS).
Saltalamacchia has plenty of flaws offensively and defensively, but quite a few teams figure to express interest now that the Marlins are eating his entire contract and the new cost to acquire him would simply be the minimum salary.
As recently as 2013 he hit .273 with 14 homers and an .804 OPS in 121 games for the Red Sox and ... well, as recently as about 15 months ago the Marlins thought he was worth $21 million in guaranteed money.