PRESS BOX

By foxsports
Published

BASEBALL

Thumbs up for McDonald return

Red Sox outfielder Darnell McDonald has had thumb surgery and is expected to be ready for spring training. General manager Theo Epstein said yesterday the injury occurred during spring training and was found during McDonald's exit physical after the season. Epstein said the injury didn't bother McDonald, and he never told the team's medical staff about it. With the Red Sox outfield hit hard by injuries, McDonald spent most of the season with Boston, batting .270 with 9 homers and 34 RBIs in 117 games. The surgery to repair an ulnar collateral ligament in McDonald's right thumb was performed Wednesday by Dr. Donald Sheridan in Arizona.

Catcher Jarrod Saltalamacchia and the Red Sox have agreed to a one-year contract that will pay him $750,000 in the major leagues and $250,000 in the minors. The deal, which avoided salary arbitration, is not guaranteed. The 25-year-old, a 2003 first-round draft pick by Atlanta, was acquired from Texas July 31 and hit .158 (3 for 19) in 10 games. He batted a combined .248 with 12 homers and 39 RBIs at Triple A for the Rangers and Red Sox.