If the Rangers are to make a trade before the deadline, Gerald Laird would seem to be the most likely piece to move. Here's one way it could happen:
The Giants send Bengie Molina to the Marlins for Mike Jacobs. The Giants lose no prospects or pitching there.
The Giants would need a catcher, and Laird would be the best available not just to fill a hole for the rest of the season but for a few years until prospect Pablo Sandoval is ready.
The Rangers would like to land Jonathan Sanchez. Laird-for-Sanchez wouldn't happen, so the Rangers could add Joaquin Arias to the mix and maybe a pitching prospect.
Would the Giants pulled the trigger if the Rangers wanted left-handed reliever Jack Taschner for Laird? That would also help the Rangers this season. They're only 4 1/2 games out in the wild-card race.
Just throwing something on a wall. Maybe it will stick.
-- Jeff Wilson
Some excellent thoughts/scenarios. But would rather see Salty go somewhere than Laird. At 6'4" Salty does not have the quickness to be a good defensive catcher. That and his arm is mediocre. Laird has a more compact stroke at the plate and a much better arm. Max Ramirez at Frisco is a comer.
Salty expressed discontent when Laird came off the DL and got his job back. When one is hitting .233 and complaining about lack of playing time on a team hitting .280, a readjustment may be needed--to another team perhaps.
Posted by: Don Hansen | July 31, 2008 at 09:52 AM