Tigers trade for Laird

The Tigers got the catcher they so badly needed, dealing two minor league prospects to Texas for backstop Gerald Laird. It sounds like the Rangers got one prospect who is Major League ready and another who is a top young talent.

Detroit parted with two pitching prospects in the deal, right-handers Guillermo Moscoso and Carlos Melo.

Moscoso, 25, made a splash in the Detroit farm system this year by going 5-4 with a 2.70 ERA in 21 games (12 starts) between Class A Lakeland and Double-A Erie. His moxie and swing-and-miss fastball have earned him some comparisons to former Tigers prospect Jair Jurrjens.

Melo, 17, pitched for the Tigers’ Dominican Summer League affiliate this year. He’s known for an explosive fastball that ranges from 92 to 96 miles per hour and has also shown a promising curveball and changeup.

Laird is a defensive catcher who hit .276 last year. His career average is down around .255, and he doesn't have a lot of pop. The Tigers obviously wanted someone to manage their pitching staff. You'll want to stay away from him in fantasy play, especially now that he's leaving on offensive park for a less offensive one.

The Rangers catching situation is intriguing. Jarrod Saltalamacchia, Taylor Teagarden and Max Ramirez have to make up the most talented young catching trio in baseball, but is any of them ready to inherit the job full time? This situation must be monitored for fantasy implications through the spring.