How does the trade of Gerald Laird affect the plans of the Red Sox?
Looking to solve their catching problems, the Detroit Tigers have acquired Gerald Laird from the Texas Rangers for pitching prospect Guillermo Moscoso and another prospect.
The Boston Red Sox had been looking into a trade with the Rangers for either Laird, Taylor Teagarden, Max Ramirez or Jarrod Saltalamacchia. Now with Laird off the table and Varitek declining arbitration, the Red Sox will have to find someone to be their starting catcher next year. It’s doubtful the Rangers would consider trading any of the other 3 catchers.
The list of free agent catchers doesn’t actually scream at you meaning the Red Sox could look around to other teams for catching help or hope that Scott Boras doesn’t hold them for ransom and they can re-sign Varitek.
The catching help from other teams that is available to the Red Sox are the following players:
Jeff Mathis, Mike Napoli, Brian Schneider, Miguel Montero, John Buck, Ramon Hernandez, Bengie Molina, Carlos Santana, Kelly Shoppach, Victor Martinez, Jesus Flores, Kenji Johjima, Jeff Clement, Yorvit Torrealba.
Out of that group, I could see the Red Sox possibly going after their former catching prospect in Kelly Shoppach, who proved while Victor Martinez was out this year that he could handle the everyday duties behind the plate.
