Will Salty Callup Lead To Laird Trade?

Jarrod Saltalamacchia has been called up, and GM Jon Daniels has no plans for him to warm the bench. Salty performed well at AAA Oklahoma, and when backup backstop Adam Melhuse broke a bone in his hand on Thursday, the call-up seemed imminent. However, incumbent Rangers catcher Gerald Laird has also been solid to start the season. Given the organization's desire to get Saltalamacchia regular at-bats and the lackluster hitting of first baseman Ben Broussard, I think it's likely that the defensively sub-par Salty will see at least some time at the "cold corner."

But with the Rangers off to an absolutely abysmal start--Buster Olney cites a scout today saying that the team looks "out of control"--we have to wonder when the Rangers will open up the treasure chest and share some of their backstop bounty with the rest of the league. As previously noted in this space, the team is expected to be sellers come July. In addition to Laird and Saltalamacchia, the Rangers also have three decent catching prospects. With catching talent so scarce, other GMs will likely come knocking sooner rather than later. Rumors about Laird have been flying to and fro since Texas acquired Saltalamacchia in the Mark Teixeira deal last summer, but Salty's call-up means the clock has officially started ticking. Although Daniels said recently he wasn't planning on trading Laird, I have a feeling he's just playing hard to get. Some possible suitors? The Reds, the Mets, the Blue Jays, or the Red Sox.

Sarah Green writes for the Boston Metro and UmpBump.com. She can be reached here.

Comments

[*Joba Rules*]

you would have to think the yanks would be interested in laird too. they have an obvious problem with catcher. monlina isn't posada, posada isn't posada, jesus montero is injured i believe, and i heard austin romaine's stock is dropping as a catcher. thats one big ouch for the yanks. how cool would it be if the yanks got taylor teagarden? it'll never happen, but i'd like that

[Larsen101]

I reallly dont think the Jays would want Laird since they got..Zaun,Barajas,Diaz and Thigpen so

[Sarah Green]

The Yankees are another good idea, I think. They have some good prospects for catcher but none that are a lock to play the position in the big leagues.

As for the Jays, they seem to think they are actually perennial contenders. However odd that is, I feel like that mindset is likely to make them disatisfied with what they currently have at catcher.

[04Forever]

laird is a very sad case, a pretty good catcher entering his prime years with no where to play and nobody really that wants him or could use him. i agree with joba rules, the yankees seem like they should be a interested party, but they lack bargaining chips. the talks would have to begin at ian kennedy, and im not sure if the yanks organization still has a hard on for him other then the fact of being stuck and not having many other options to go with. they the rangers would want either him or melky so i dont think that the yanks will pony up there to get him even though they should. red sox wont be really interested because we have enough catchers, great and not so great. the only other real team that could be interested are the reds since they have the prospects to move, like homer. idk, will see, its not july yet...

[GmblngPtchr20]

Laird, Milwood and cash (2 mil) for Bailey, Dickerson and a PTBNL???

Jockety is here, and ready to trade prospects (not Bruce)

[HoratioAlgae]

I do not see the Yankees in the market for Laird. However, I'm sure they would want Millwood. Acquiring Millwood would allow Hughes to work out of the bullpen. They desperately need bullpen help right now with Bruney out for the season and half of the 'pen not being reliable enough to hold a lead.

[*Joba Rules*]

whoa, whoa, whoa. "HoratioAlgae," you mean hughes in the bullpen just this season right? maybe that would work, but i think any youngster like him just needs to work out his problems on his own, like they say, "rome wasn't built in a day." millwood's price would be huge anyways, and besides he's not that great. i'd wait it out til the next free agent class instead. the potential of signing sabathia is better than giving up prospects in order to get millwood. having said all that, the bullpen and the rotation does need to be addressed, but let the kids work it out, there better than the free agents avaliable.

[Joe159]

*Joba Rules* - Montero and Romine are both in low-A ball right now. Romine is the one who's hurt, and Montero is absolutely raking to the tune of .364/.382/.545 at age 18. But neither of them are going to factor into the Yankees' plans at catcher for a few years.

That being said, I don't think the Yankees will be looking for a catcher any time soon. Posada is signed long-term, Molina is a more than servicable backup, and Moeller proved he can be useful in a pinch the past few games. I do agree that waiting to sign Sabathia is a better choice than dealing for anyone out there, with the possible exception of Oswalt if, IF the Astros are way out of it in July and decide to shop him.