Gerald Laird

2013

Subscribe now to see our 2013 outlook.

2011

Laird was pushed into a timeshare with Tigers rookie Alex Avila in 2010. While he provided his usual solid play behind the plate, Laird managed to hit just .207 with five home runs in 270 at-bats. The down season couldn't have come at a worse time for Laird, as he hit free agency during the winter. After signing a one-year deal with the Cards, Laird will serve as the primary backup to Yadier Molina in St. Louis.

2010

While Laird offered the Tigers Gold-Glove caliber defense behind home plate in his first campaign with the team, he did little else to warrant any fantasy consideration. In a career-high 413 at-bats, Laird struggled to the tune of .225/.306/.320. while connecting on just four home runs. The 30-year-old backstop is once again tabbed to handle Detroit�s rotation, but his struggles with the bat will likely cost him a few more starts to prospect Alex Avila in 2010.

2009

Laird rebounded a bit from a disappointing 2007 season, but his playing time dipped in September with Texas wanting to get a good look at Taylor Teagarden, and Laird was quick to express his displeasure. He was traded to the Tigers in early December, where he'll go back into a full-time role but in a much tougher environment for hitters. Still, he'll get the bulk of the playing time there ahead of new backup Matt Treanor.

2008

Laird failed in his first chance to become an everyday catcher, hitting just .224/.278/.349 in 407 at-bats. The drop in power was particularly worrisome, and there's now considerable doubt surrounding his role with Texas following the announcement over the winter that Jarrod Saltalamacchia would return to being a full-time catcher.

2007

The "Free Gerald Laird!" chants finally became too loud for even veteran-loving Buck Showlater to ignore in August. A poor September (.191/.257/.279) took the shine off the star a bit, and he shouldn't be expected to hit .296 again, but a nice .270 season with decent power seems reasonable. With Rod Barajas departing via free agency, Laird has the catching duties all to himself.

2006

Laird spent the bulk of the year at Triple-A Oklahoma City wondering what else he has to do to stay in the majors. Hitting .310/.380/.562 should be more than enough to earn him a legitimate look as Texas' starting catcher in 2006, but Rod Barajas is a Buck Showalter favorite and that's a tough nut to crack. That makes Laird the subject of trade rumors, and his best bet for extended playing time in 2006 is a trade out of Texas. He'd be the perfect $1 catcher elsewhere.

2005

Laird missed two months with a torn thumb ligament and found himself sitting in favor of Rod Barajas once healthy. The injury never fully healed, costing Laird an entire season basically. He's shown occasional pop in the minors, but won't get much of a chance behind Barajas and the recently signed Sandy Alomar, Jr. He'll start the year at Triple-A Oklahoma City.

2004

Last year went as expected, with Laird filling in for an occasionally-injured Todd Greene between stints at Triple-A. He continues to show decent power and patience, and he'll assume the second catching duties between Einar Diaz now that Greene is gone. He'll make a solid $1 catcher who will sock half a dozen homers but won't get enough at-bats to kill your batting average.

2003

Laird is the Rangers' best catching prospect since former first-round draft pick Scott Heard (who didn't hit above .300 as a senior in high school), but has been slow to develop. Laird arrived in the Carlos Pena/Mario Ramos swap and showed good patience and occasional pop at Double-A. He played a little in the outfield at Tulsa too, taking a page out of the Todd Greene Handbook. With Texas trading for Einar Diaz, Laird figures to spend all year in the minors, though he'd likely be called up should an injury hit to Diaz or Todd Greene.