Tom Szczerbowski/Getty ImagesJarrod Saltalamacchia has retired from MLB after 12 seasons Josh Harrison Jersey , the veteran catcher confirmed to The Athletic's Ken Rosenthal.Saltalamacchia cited a desire to spend more time with his family as his rationale for stepping away from the game:"For that reason it's time for me to hang up my gear and start the next chapter of my life and start following them around and being there cheering section and enjoy being a part of their lives year round. I have spent 30 years playing this game and it's all I know so I fully expect to continue to give back to this game that has given me and my family so much. I enjoy spreading the knowledge that every veteran has given me on my 16 year journey so that's what I plan to do! See you at the ballpark!"The Atlanta Braves selected Saltalamacchia with the 36th overall pick of the 2003 draft. He was with the Braves organization for four-and-a-half years before Atlanta traded him to the Texas Rangers in August 2007 as part of a deal for Mark Teixeira.Saltalamacchia played for seven different teams: the Braves, Rangers, Boston Red Sox, Miami Marlins, Arizona Diamondbacks, Detroit Tigers and Toronto Blue Jays. His last appearance came on Sept. 29 for the Tigers in a 6-5 loss to the Milwaukee Brewers.A switch hitter, the 33-year-old was a platoon option for the bulk of his time in MLB. According to Baseball Reference, he had 2,320 plate appearances against right-handers Gregory Polanco Jersey , compared to 871 plate appearances against left-handers.When facing righties, Saltalamacchia was a solid hitter, posting a .243/.321/.436 slash line. However, southpaws clearly had his number, as he slugged just .336.Saltalamacchia's best season came in 2013 with the Red Sox, a year that also ended in his only World Series title. He hit 14 home runs while driving in 65 runs and slugging .466, and he ranked eighth among catchers in WAR (3.5), per FanGraphs.More than anything he did on the field, Saltalamacchia will forever be remembered for something else. At 14 letters Jung-ho Kang Jersey , his surname is apparently the longest in MLB history. Jennifer Stewart/Getty ImagesThe Los Angeles Dodgersand outfielder A.J. Pollock agreed on a contract Thursday, pending a physical.Ken Rosenthal of The Athletic reported the pact, while ESPN's Buster Olney broke down details of the contract:Buster Olney Buster_ESPNAJ Pollock has already passed physical onhis Dodger deal. Slated to earn $55m in first 4 years, but could earn opt-out after Year 3 if he reaches set no. of PA. 5th year player option for $10m, w/ $5m buyoutJeff Passan of Yahoo Sports noted the Diamondbacks would get a compensatory pick, because Pollock signed for more than $50 million.Pollock, 31, spent his first seven MLB seasons with the Arizona Diamondbacks. He hit .257/.316/.484with 21 home runs and 65 runs batted in last season.An All-Star and Gold Glove winner in 2015, he has struggled to replicate that form each of the last three years鈥攍argely because of injury. He has missed 249 games in that time and has not been the same player when he is on the field.After posting 6.8 wins above replacement in 2015 Francisco Cervelli Jersey , Pollock has 5.2 total WAR from 2016 to 2018, per FanGraphs.Rather than becoming a perennial All-Star, he has settled in as a solid everyday starter utility rather than a building block. He hits for some power but not a lot, hits for OK average but not great and plays solid but unspectacular defense.That he's a good all-around player makes him valuable. If he has any real slippage defensively, this contract could wind up being excessive.However, Pollock should be a steady addition provided he stays healthy.The Dodgers needed some help in the outfield after trading Yasiel Puig to the Cincinnati Redsin December. They're also reportedly open to moving Joc Pederson via trade as well. While they were linked to Bryce Harper earlier in the offseason, Nightengale reported the team is now focused on a potential trade for Miami Marlins catcher J.T. Realmuto.Pollock would not be much of an upgrade over Pederson, especially given that the Dodgers will now have to surrender the No. 31 pick in this year's draft to Arizona.