:format(webp)/cdn.vox-cdn.com/uploads/chorus_image/image/49192249/usa-today-9194621.0.jpg)
The Detroit Tigers traded third catcher Bryan Holaday to the Texas Rangers in exchange for 24-year-old pitcher Myles Jaye and 32-year-old catcher Bobby Wilson, both teams announced.
Jaye is a righthander who was drafted out of high school by the Toronto Blue Jays in 2010. Scouts were mixed on whether he would pitch or play the field in pro ball, but it’s hard to argue with his results thus far. In 2015, Jaye allowed a 3.29 ERA and 2.21 strikeout-to-walk ratio in 147 2/3 innings for Double-A Birmingham (a Chicago White Sox affiliate). Jaye was included in a trade to the Rangers in December 2015, and spent most of the spring in their minor league camp. Various internet scouting reports cite Jaye's fastball as a low-90s offering with potential to touch 95 miles per hour, though his secondary pitches lag far behind.
Wilson will be used to fill out the Toledo Mud Hens' Triple-A roster. He has 249 games of experience at the major league level, compiled across four different clubs. He played in 31 games last season for Texas, hitting .221/.291/.325 with one home run and 10 RBI. However, he is widely regarded as an excellent pitch framer, ranking among the best catchers in baseball in 2015. He signed a minor league contract with the Rangers in December and is entering his age-33 season.
Holaday was out of options and having a good spring before the trade. The Tigers could have attempted to put him through waivers, and manager Brad Ausmus used him a bit in a utility role this spring. But with catcher Jarrod Saltalamacchia signed this offseason to work in tandem with James McCann, Holaday's future in Detroit seemed set to end.
Holaday is native of Dallas and played baseball for Texas Christian University (TCU), so this is a return home for him. He has a double and a home run in seven career plate appearances at Globe Life Park in Arlington.
Coupled with sending outfielder Wynton Bernard to the Mud Hens earlier Tuesday, the Tigers now have 34 players remaining in big league camp. The fringes of the bullpen have yet to be determined, but Holaday's departure likely cements Tyler Collins' status on the Opening Day roster in place of Cameron Maybin, who will begin the season on the disabled list.