LAIRD TO TIGERS
The Detroit Tigers acquired catcher Gerald Laird from the Texas Rangers for pitchers Guillermo Moscoso and Carlos Melo.
What does it give the Detroit Tigers
Laird brings a steady hand and a steady bat behind the dish. After the Tigers traded Ivan Rodriguez to the Yankees last July, utilityman Brandon Inge shared backstop duties with young Dusty Ryan. Laird can take over as the No. 1 while Ryan develops his game, and will bring stability to a key position. The Tigers also need that to get their pitching staff back on track in 2009.
What does it give the Texas Rangers
Moscoso, 25, is a versatile righty strikeout artist (he can start and relieve) who has taken a few years to sort things out in the lower minors. That said, he dominated in 2008, striking out a whopping 50 batters over just 34.2 innings at Double-A Erie (with a 3.12 ERA) over six starts after moving up from Single-A Lakeland (where he K'ed 72 in just 52 innings with a 2.42 ERA). Melo is talented but only 17 years old, so he is years away. Part of this deal is about dropping Laird's salary, but it also frees up opportunities for the Rangers' three young catchers (presuming a low-budget veteran isn't signed): Taylor Teagarden (who was excellent late last season), Jarrod Saltalamacchia and Max Ramirez.
Fantasy impact
