The offseason signing of veteran catcher David Ross placed Saltalamacchia in competition with Lavarnway for the remaining position behind the plate. Boston general manager Ben Cherington ultimately optioned Lavarnway to Triple-A, keeping Ross and Saltalamacchia as his major league catching staff for the 2013 season. The season turned out to be the most offensively impressive of Saltalamacchia's career, as he set new career highs with a .273 batting average, a .338 on-base percentage, a .466 slugging percentage, 68 runs scored, 40 doubles, 65 RBIs, and 43 walks. Saltalamacchia also helped take the Red Sox to the postseason for the first time since he joined the team, both through his own offensive performance and by helping to coach the Red Sox' young pitching staff. After aiding the Red Sox in their playoff run, Saltalamacchia scored a walk-off RBI single in Game 2 of the 2013 American League Championship Series, bringing home Jonny Gomes to take the game 6–5. Saltalamacchia's success could not continue into the 2013 World Series, as a wild throw to third base in Game 3 was called as "obstruction", allowing Allen Craig of the St. Louis Cardinals to take a run and win the game 5–4. He was benched for the remainder of the series, which the Red Sox won in six games, and Boston did not tender Jarrod Saltalamacchia a qualifying offer for the following season, leaving him a free agent.