Gerald Laird is Coming to Detroit

by Ian Casselberry on Dec 8, 2008 9:00 AM EST in News Comment 12 comments

While you were sleeping (or while I was, anyway), the Detroit Tigers put a big checkmark on their offseason shopping list and finalized a trade with the Texas Rangers for catcher Gerald Laird. Going to the Rangers in exchange are pitching prospects Guillermo Moscoso and Carlos Melo. The trade is expected to be officially announced this morning.

As of last night, the Freep's Jon Paul Morosi said that a deal was close to happening, with Moscoso agreed upon and another pitching prospect to be named. A few hours later, Ken Rosenthal reported that the deal was official, and Melo was revealed to be the second player going to Texas.

So Detroit now has itself a starting catcher, one who can provide some stability behind the plate until Dusty Ryan, James Skelton, or Alex Avila develop into major league-ready players. Laird's hitting numbers won't make you sit up, with a .276/.329/.398 average to go with six home runs and 41 RBIs. But he'll give the Tiger some good defense, which they'd placed at a premium in a new catcher. Laird threw out 27.4% of opposing basestealers this year, and was one of the better catchers in the American League at blocking balls, something Pudge Rodriguez and Brandon Inge were horrible with.

Moscoso ended the year in Double-A, finishing his overall season with a 5-4 record and 2.70 ERA. But the numbers that made people take notice were the 122 strikeouts in 86.2 innings. At 25 years old, some think Moscoso is perhaps a bit too old to be considered a top prospect, but the Tigers thought he was capable of contributing to the major league team by the end of next season.

Melo is just 17 years old, having pitched this season for the Tigers' Dominican League team. In 49 innings, he compiled a 5-5 record, 5.14 ERA, and 61 strikeouts.

I imagine there are some Tigers fans who won't like to see young pitching given up for what could be seen as an average catcher (and such comments have already been posted here). But the catching market in free agency was hardly impressive, so to get someone relatively young (Laird is 29) but experienced, and also a good defender, was going to cost something. The Rangers have been nursing a catching surplus for a couple of years now, so they were the team to target, and a deal would only get done by offering pitching.

The market also seemed to work in Detroit's favor, as Texas was originally seeking a major league-ready pitcher, but perhaps found themselves needing to shed an arbitration-eligible player due to earn approximately $2 million next season. The Rangers had to trade at least one of their catchers this winter, and with the Red Sox preferring one of their younger prospects, such as Jarrod Saltalamacchia or Max Ramirez, and the Reds seemingly unwilling to part with young pitching, the Tigers became the market for Laird.

I give this one the BYB stamp of approval, but the comments await your input. Do you like this deal or was Laird not worth what the Tigers gave up? Sound off.

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Happy here....

We didn’t give up a whole lot, and he is secured through next season. I think he will be a major + this year. He should be happy to be coming to a strong team, and not have to be hearing about all the young studs lined up behind him waiting to take his job. Especially with Dusty “Rhodes” Ryan batting .129 in the Puerto Rican league. He should help the pitchers gain confidence in throwing all of their pitches when ever they want, as he will block it! Two thumbs up, now how about Everitt/Punto and Wood…….

by Zappatista on Dec 8, 2008 9:32 AM EST reply actions 0 recs

Like

by densogirl on Dec 8, 2008 9:44 AM EST reply actions 0 recs

I don’t know much about the 17 year old but it’s tough to bemoan the loss of a player who is likely 3 seasons away from the majors, if not more.

Moscoso is not really a blue chipper, is old for the level he’s pitching at and is still loaded with questions about his health and his ability to remain a starter at the major league level. He wasn’t going to be in the rotation out of camp and if he filtered into our plans after that it means there are far more serious problems at the major league level. And with Perry and Satterwhite in the system it’s likely he wasn’t even at the top of the list for a relief role. It’s tough watching another “top 10” prospect go out the door, but I think the return is worth it.

Laird is a good, cheap player. He isn’t really a starter and if there’s one problem I have it’s that he was traded for like he is. But hey maybe he can find a comfort zone in detroit and make any future decision to push him out a difficult one. Remember that Ryan, Skelton and Avilia are not sure things at this point and at the very least Laird offers us some breathing room for a few seasons. He’s really not that much worse of a hitter than Pudge was the last few years and the greatest benefit of all might be instilling some confidence in Verlander that his curve won’t end up at the backstop.

So, one down with roughly $12m left to spend and no loss of major league talent. Good times.

by MacRae on Dec 8, 2008 9:48 AM EST reply actions 0 recs

Tigers been searching for AAA pitching soon

Thumbs up, Tigers won the trade because they got the best player in the deal. DD and staff is very good in searching for AA/AAA talent because AAA need replenishing in the pitching department.

by Barry2 on Dec 8, 2008 10:59 AM EST reply actions 0 recs

Most of our options for AAA and AA are probably internal. Barring something totally unforseen, Lambert and Bonine will likely be back in Toledo along with French, Rainwater and (hopefully) Tata. AA will be pretty exciting with Porcello, Figaro and Marte all graduate candidates. And a bunch of guys including Crosby, Hamilton, Todd, Larez and Sanz pitched well enough at GCL to earn promotions to various A level teams.

by MacRae on Dec 8, 2008 11:29 AM EST up reply actions 0 recs

True enough. I guess I got over-excited in the other thread. We’ve got a lot of pitching coming up. Also, I think Charlie Furbush is due to be back next year after Tommy John, to add to your list.

by cherub_daemon on Dec 8, 2008 1:17 PM EST up reply actions 0 recs

Galarraga

No I mean find another Galarraga.

by Barry2 on Dec 8, 2008 11:47 AM EST reply actions 0 recs

Sanity

I don’t want to overemphasize this point, but there might be an upside to having a couple guys on the team who can’t hit and who KNOW they can’t hit.

One of the things that always annoyed me about 2007 and 2008 was this jumble of veterans who hit much higher in the order than they should have because they USED to be able to rake and Leyland wanted to coddle their egos. There is absolutely no reason why Renteria or Pudge should have ever hit leadoff.

Now you pretty much know where everyone stands. Rarely if ever will anyone besides Grandy, Polly, Maggs, Miggy, Carlos and Sheff see the top end of the batting order which is the way it should be. Having a catcher who you can bat 9th with no complaint is another minor victory for this trade.

by MacRae on Dec 8, 2008 11:51 AM EST reply actions 0 recs

If Detroit signs Adam Everett...

Laird will never have to worry about batting ninth. :-)

But I agree with your point.

Bless You Boys

by Ian Casselberry on Dec 8, 2008 11:53 AM EST up reply actions 0 recs

With Inge,

who says he has to worry about it NOW?

by Zappatista on Dec 8, 2008 12:23 PM EST up reply actions 0 recs

Hello all...

You guys are going to enjoy having Gerry as a part of your team. He may not be the best hitting catcher, but he plays hard, is a good bunter / thrower / blocker, and is a stand up guy. He’s been very popular with fans, the media, and teammates, and should be a good addition. The catching situation in Texas got a bit crowded and by all accounts he’s really looking forward to a new start in Detroit.
Count me as a new Tiger fan…

by TxTiger on Dec 8, 2008 5:22 PM EST reply actions 0 recs

Thank god

thank god there are some sane individuals on this website. MacRae, i agree 100% with everything you said. a 25 year old at double A is nothing to get all that excited about and a 17 year old is too young to know anything about. We didnt give up much and got a legitimate major league catcher. How much offense does this club really need if we can get the added defense of everett and laird? we will score plenty of runs with granderson maggs, cabrera, polly and guillen. now we need to use whats left of the budget or the farm to get ourselves some bullpen arms.

by limbo586 on Dec 9, 2008 12:30 AM EST reply actions 0 recs