Dan Graziano of the Newark Star-Ledger says the Yankees have inquired on four catchers: Gerald Laird, Paul Lo Duca, Miguel Olivo, and Rod Barajas.
- Laird, 28, is expected to rejoin the Rangers Saturday after his hamstring injury. He’s a Boras client with a $1.6MM salary this year. He’s under team control through 2010, and Ken Rosenthal says the Rangers want young pitching for him.
- Lo Duca, 36, will be a free agent after the season. He’s got about $1.9MM left on his contract this year. He understands that he’s a strong trade candidate.
- Olivo, 30, is splitting time with John Buck in Kansas City. Olivo has hit lefties quite well. He has a $2.7MM club option for ’09. Rosenthal says the Royals are "aggressively shopping" him.
- Barajas, 32, is slumping currently. He has a $2.5MM club option for ’09. Eddie Bajek took a stab at projecting the Elias rankings for catchers, and Barajas seems to be right on the border of Type B status. However, he might choose to accept an offer of arbitration. Peter Abraham says that the Blue Jays might be reluctant to trade within the division.
