Tigers acquire Gerald Laird

Tigers get catcher Laird for 2 pitching prospects

Editor's note: Story updated at 3:00 a.m.

LAS VEGAS – The Tigers acquired catcher Gerald Laird from the Texas Rangers late Sunday night, fulfilling one of their major off-season needs on the eve of baseball’s winter meetings.

Detroit parted with two pitching prospects in the deal, right-handers Guillermo Moscoso and Carlos Melo.

Moscoso, 25, made a splash in the Detroit farm system this year by going 5-4 with a 2.70 ERA in 21 games (12 starts) between Class A Lakeland and Double-A Erie. His moxie and swing-and-miss fastball have earned him some comparisons to former Tigers prospect Jair Jurrjens.

Melo, 17, pitched for the Tigers’ Dominican Summer League affiliate this year. He’s known for an explosive fastball that ranges from 92 to 96 miles per hour and has also shown a promising curveball and changeup.

An official announcement is expected this morning.

The Tigers were especially reluctant to surrender Moscoso, because he’s believed to be close to reaching the majors, but their need for catching was too great for them to pass on Laird. Dusty Ryan, the only catcher on their 40-man roster, is currently batting .163 in the Puerto Rican Winter League.

Laird, 29, is regarded as a good defender and hit .276 this season. He’s been a favorite of the Detroit front office for some time and will not be eligible for free agency until after the 2010 season, so he should offer the Tigers some long-term security at the position.

Moscoso struggled recently in the Venezuelan Winter League, where he has a 2-1 record and 8.36 ERA, but his performance there is believed to be a function of his role and not an indication that he is injured. He prefers to start but has made all but one of his eight appearances out of the bullpen.

He has had shoulder issues in the past – including surgery in 2005 – but the Tigers said recently that he is healthy.

I think its nice that we got a seasoned guy to platoon with Dusty at least.

12/08/08 3:24 PM EST
Tigers seal deal with Texas, get Laird
Detroit sends Minor League pitchers Moscoso, Melo to Rangers

By Jason Beck / MLB.com

LAS VEGAS -- The first of what will likely be many deals at baseball's Winter Meetings fills the first of several needs for the Tigers, who formally announced their trade with the Rangers for catcher Gerald Laird on Monday morning.

The Tigers acquired Laird in exchange for Minor League pitchers Guillermo Moscoso and Carlos Melo. Laird immediately becomes the everyday catcher and, given the Tigers' opinion of him, could become a useful piece in their lineup.

"We had a glaring need for a catcher," manager Jim Leyland said, "and we feel like we acquired a very solid Major League catcher, and he's a very versatile guy for a catcher. He's got pretty good leg speed for a catcher in particular. He can do some things offensively as well as catch and throw. It's going to be nice to work with him, get him acclimated to our pitching staff. He is a bona fide Major League catcher."

The Tigers had engaged the Rangers in talks for much of the offseason, team president/general manager Dave Dombrowski said. But while much of the speculation on Texas' trade options centered on their younger catchers, Dombrowski said their preference was to keep those options and deal Laird, who is eligible for arbitration this winter and free agency after the 2010 season.

That might have ended up working to the benefit of the Tigers, who didn't have the prospects to compete with teams interested in the other catchers -- Taylor Teagarden and Jarrod Saltalamacchia -- but found a package could land Laird once they sold the Rangers on Moscoso.

"We're excited to get Laird," Dombrowski said. "He's a proven big league catcher. He's somebody that was at the top of our list as far as trying to acquire someone from an organization this wintertime. There's no doubt that we had a need there."

Laird batted .276 for the Rangers last year with 24 doubles in 344 at-bats to go with six home runs and 41 RBIs. He hit .299 with a .759 OPS (on-base percentage plus slugging) away from Texas.

It's the doubles potential on which Leyland focused when he discussed Laird's offense and how he could fit in Detroit.

"I think he's a very usable bat, and I think we need a little bit more of that," Leyland said. "We normally have to hit it over the fence to produce runs. We're not a club that has a lot of speed. I think we added not only a good catcher, but a guy who can help us in that area as well. I think it's great ballpark for Laird. He didn't hit a lot of home runs in Texas, but he's a gap hitter, and a gap hitter in our ballpark is a good thing to have. And he can catch and throw."

Since the Tigers acquired him for a relatively low cost in terms of prospects and payroll, they have more resources left for their other needs -- shortstop and the bullpen. Though it's uncertain whether the pursuit of Laird had much effect on talks involving Pirates shortstop Jack Wilson, the Wilson talks had backed off as of Monday, and free agent Adam Everett had taken more of a priority.

Though one report suggested an Everett signing was imminent, the Tigers had yet to meet with his representatives to discuss a contract as of Monday afternoon. Everett happens to be in Las Vegas this week, so a deal could come together quickly. The Tigers could also have interest in former Twins shortstop Nick Punto if they can't sign Everett, but have yet to have substantive talks with his agent this offseason.

Then comes the Tigers' search for a closer, where they've expressed some level of interest in free agent Kerry Wood and have eyed Mariners closer J.J. Putz, whom Seattle is believed to be looking to trade.

Jason Beck is a reporter for MLB.com. This story was not subject to the approval of Major League Baseball or its clubs.

I really think if we can get a closer, we will be set for next year.

And while we're at it, we should just deal Nando to get him out of here, I bet we get something good out of it.