Going rate too steep for GM

After all the phone calls, emails, and text messages, there was little to show for the Red Sox. With prices too high and return too low at yesterday’s trade deadline, they turned to internal options, adding only a minor league pitcher and minor league catcher.The Sox also gave up on two major leaguers, designating outfielder Jeremy Hermida for assignment and shipping reliever Ramon Ramirez to the Giants. To take their places, outfielder Ryan Kalish and reliever Dustin Richardson were summoned from Pawtucket.“It is an empty feeling to come away empty-handed,’’ general manager Theo Epstein said. “Before we did something we felt we would regret for a long time, we felt like this was the best course to ultimately help our 2010 club, and do it in a way that helps the future as well.’’Epstein stressed that even though the Sox did not make a major move, the front office is far from giving up on this year’s team.“I want to be clear that we still think we have the ability to make the postseason,’’ Epstein said prior to the Sox pulling off a 5-4, ninth-inning comeback win over Detroit. “We have to get really hot. As we get healthier, we start to see the team on the field that can get really hot. We were healthy in April, and didn’t play up to our capabilities. That was a real frustration around here.“Now that we’re getting healthier, we get our team back on the field, there’s a feeling in that clubhouse and in our front office that we have the ability to do what we didn’t do in April, and that’s run off a bunch of wins in a row. . . . We still have a feeling that that has a good chance of happening. That’s why we’re going to continue to be aggressive looking for help in August.’’And while Epstein said the Sox were “pretty aggressive’’ in their offers, the deals were not to their liking.“If you look at the trade market in general, last year we were talking about guys who were 10-time All-Stars, if not Hall of Fame-type talent,’’ Epstein said. “This year on the market, it was a different mix. We were talking more about middle relievers. That’s the nature of it.They made strong offers on Toronto’s Scott Downs, Anaheim’s Brian Fuentes, Seattle’s Brandon League, and were also in on Toronto’s Kevin Gregg, according to a baseball source. The Sox had a late discussion with Cleveland on Kerry Wood, and talked with Arizona about Chad Qualls and Aaron Heilman.“This year is not as talented,’’ said Epstein. “Are we going to give up our best or second-best prospect for what might amount to a marginal upgrade? Probably not in any year.’’So, there was no highly touted reliever. No new bat in the outfield, such as Ryan Ludwick or Rick Ankiel.“I think there are probably a lot of teams out there that are frustrated,’’ Epstein said. “In past years we’ve been able to make trades that immediately impact our big-league team, and that’s a really satisfying feeling. Other years we haven’t been able to and come away with a bit of an empty feeling. So, today is more the latter.“It’s not the end of the story. We have August [and the waiver trading deadline]. But if you ask me, ‘Are we frustrated that we weren’t able to help this team today?’ Yeah, we are.’’For now, the most interesting addition is Kalish in the place of Hermida, who could be traded in the coming days, or end up back in the minors for the Sox, as he has options remaining.“We just felt we needed to get a little more offense from the outfield if we could,’’ Epstein said. “We were looking to upgrade in the trade market, and when it was clear that wasn’t going to materialize, we decided rather than putting someone like a Ryan Kalish in a deal that we would regret someday, with the way his development is going, he’s ready for a trial here at the major league level.’’Also coming to Boston is Jarrod Saltalamacchia, the catcher whose name came up frequently two offseasons ago. At that time, the Rangers’ price centered around Clay Buchholz. This time, with Saltalamacchia struggling, the price had fallen dramatically. The Sox sent first baseman Chris McGuiness, righthander Roman Mendez, a player to be named, and cash to Texas for Saltalamacchia, who was sent to Pawtucket.“[Saltalamacchia’s] someone we hope we’re buying low on right now as he’s battling a few different issues. Obviously, he had the health issue where he had the surgery on the thoracic outlet syndrome this past winter. He had a difficult recovery from that. And then he battled some throwing issues earlier this year, but didn’t take time off, really battled through them.’’Scouts had been watching Saltalamacchia, 25, noting that he has been able to throw the ball back to the pitcher, which was where he had developed problems. The Sox believe that Saltalamacchia needs a change of scenery to fulfill his potential, after “butting heads with the organization over there a little bit,’’ as Epstein said.Saltalamacchia is bound for Triple A, where he was playing for the Rangers. The catcher learned that he was traded at 4 p.m., when he was called back into the clubhouse at the start of batting practice.“I see this as a new start for me,’’ Saltalamacchia said. “I wish I could have gone back up with the Rangers but they’re in a pennant race and they didn’t feel it was the time for me. So I accept that. I have a lot to prove to myself and to the Red Sox now.’’Saltalamacchia said he expects to arrive in Pawtucket today and play tomorrow.The Sox got another prospect, 23-year-old Double A righthander Daniel Turpen, for Ramirez.Turpen is 5-5 with one save and a 4.09 ERA for Double A Richmond. He was an eighth-round selection in the 2007 draft.“Low arm slot, almost sidearm reliever that our scouts really like,’’ Epstein said. “He has the makings of three above-average pitches.’’Nick Cafardo of the Globe staff contributed to this report.