Texas Rangers

It's official: Laird has been traded

The Rangers have sent catcher Gerald Laird to Detroit for right-handers Guillermo Moscoso and Carlos Melo. Tigers manager Jim Leyland and general manager Dave Dombrowski are speaking about the deal now, and Leyland seems to love Laird.

"He can catch and throw. Everybody knows that," Leyland said. "Laird is going to be a guy who is a perfect fit for our ballpark. He's not just a guy who can hit some doubles, but I think he'll get come triples in our park. He's a very usable bat."

Laird is also looking forward to the opportunity, saying: "There was a lot of uncertainty the last few years. I was really frustrated. Now I have a chance to be consistent and play every day."

-- Jeff Wilson

Winter Meetings: Day 1, update 2, 9:54 a.m. PST

It costs $25 to use the fitness room here at the Bellagio, an expense neither I nor the Star-Telegram is willing to pay. The good news is that us media slobs are burning calories roaming the spacious hallways, lobby and casino as we attempt to find anyone here with the teams we cover.

So far, manager Ron Washington has been spotted and engaged in conversation. He said he's glad for Gerald Laird, who has been traded to Detroit although an announcement is pending. Expect that to become official in about an hour or so.

-- Jeff Wilson

Just waiting

Keep in mind that it's only 8:40 a.m. here in Las Vegas, so the business day is just starting. Word is that the Tigers will announce that they have traded for Rangers catcher Gerald Laird within the next few hours. Maybe at lunch, maybe just before, maybe just after. Maybe at 3 this afternoon. But it's coming, and the Rangers are content to let Detroit make the announcement: Laird from the Rangers for Guillermo Moscoso and Carlos Melo.

-- Jeff Wilson

Rangers, Tigers nearing deal?

The Rangers have reached an agreement that would send catcher Gerald Laird to the Detroit Tigers for a minor-league pitcher and a 17-year-old pitcher from the Dominican Republic, a major-league source confirmed.

Coming to Texas are right-handers Guillermo Moscoso, 25, and Carlos Melo, a teenager who hasn't pitched in the United States. Moscoso went 5-4 with a 2.70 ERA in 21 games (12 starts) in 2008 at Class A and Double A. Here's an eye-popping stat line: 122 strikeouts and 21 walks in 86 1/3 innings.

But the Venezuelan is struggling in winter ball (2-1, 8.36 ERA). According to the Detroit Free Press, Moscoso is not injured but is struggling to adapt to his role as a reliever. He had shoulder surgery in 2005.

Laird, 29, will be the Tigers' everyday catcher. His departure leaves Taylor Teagarden, Jarrod Saltalamacchia and Max Ramirez vying for big-league roster spots in 2009, but don't assume that another one of them won't be traded. Laird's departure also saves the Rangers around $3 million he was expected to make next season.

-- Jeff Wilson

Bradley passes

All-Star outfielder/designated hitter Milton Bradley has declined the Rangers' offer for salary arbitration. The Rangers can still negotiate with Bradley, who hit .321 last season, but if he signs with another team, the Rangers would land a compensatory draft pick between the first and second rounds.

-- Jeff Wilson

Hamilton talks about past in video

If you can't get enough of the Josh Hamilton story, you're in luck. Hamilton talks about his struggles with addiction on the Web site www.iamsecond.com. It's interesting and gives even more insight into Hamilton.

- Anthony Andro

Spring training schedule released

Here's a look at the 2009 spring training schedule.

2009 TEXAS RANGERS SPRING TRAINING SCHEDULE

(All Times Mountain Except Where Noted)

 

DATE                                        OPPONENT                               SITE                                                      TIME

Wednesday, February 25       Kansas City Royals (Charity Game)  Surprise Stadium                 1:05 p.m.

Thursday, February 26           Kansas City Royals                 Surprise Stadium                                 1:05 p.m.

Friday, February 27                Chicago Cubs                              Surprise Stadium                          1:05 p.m.

Saturday, February 28             Arizona Diamondbacks             Tucson                                              1:05 p.m.

Sunday, March 1                     Seattle Mariners                      Surprise Stadium                               1:05 p.m.

Monday, March 2                    Cleveland Indians                   Goodyear                                              1:05 p.m.

Tuesday, March 3                  Off Day                                                                

Wednesday, March 4             Kansas City Royals                    Surprise Stadium                               1:05 p.m.

Thursday, March 5                San Diego Padres                         Surprise Stadium                               1:05 p.m.

Friday, March 6                       Kansas City Royals                     Surprise Stadium                                 1:05 p.m.

Saturday, March 7                  Chicago White Sox                     Surprise Stadium                               1:05 p.m.

Sunday, March 8                      Chicago Cubs                             Mesa                                                      1:05 p.m.

Monday, March 9                              Los Angeles Dodgers                     Surprise Stadium                               1:05 p.m.

Tuesday, March 10                            San Francisco Giants                     Surprise Stadium                           1:05 p.m.

Wednesday, March 11                       Off Day                                

Thursday, March 12                           Seattle Mariners                              Peoria                                            1:05 p.m.              

Friday, March 13                                 Los Angeles Dodgers (SS)           Glendale                                                1:05 p.m.

                                                                Kansas City Royals (SS)            Surprise Stadium                                 1:05 p.m.

Saturday, March 14                            Chicago White Sox                       Glendale                                                1:05 p.m.

Sunday, March 15                              San Diego Padres                          Surprise Stadium                               1:05 p.m.

Monday, March 16                             Off Day

Tuesday, March 17                            Cleveland Indians                         Surprise Stadium                               1:05 p.m.

Wednesday, March 18                       San Diego Padres                         Peoria                                                     1:05 p.m.

Thursday, March 19                         Oakland A’s                                 Surprise Stadium                               1:05 p.m.

Friday, March 20                                 Colorado Rockies                                               

Saturday, March 21                          Colorado Rockies                        Surprise Stadium                               1:05 p.m.

Sunday, March 22                              Los Angeles Dodgers                  Glendale                                                1:05 p.m.

Monday, March 23                             Off Day

Tuesday, March 24                             Seattle Mariners                            Peoria                                                     1:05 p.m.

Wednesday, March 25                      Arizona Diamondbacks            Surprise Stadium                               6:05 p.m.

Thursday, March 26                           Milwaukee Brewers                    Maryvale                                              1:05 p.m.

Friday, March 27                               Milwaukee Brewers                    Surprise Stadium                               6:05 p.m.

Saturday, March 28                            Kansas City Royals                     Surprise Stadium                                 1:05 p.m.

Sunday, March 29                              Los Angeles Angels                  Surprise Stadium                               1:05 p.m.

Monday, March 30                             San Francisco Giants                   Scottsdale                                             1:05 p.m.

Tuesday, March 31                            San Francisco Giants                Surprise Stadium                               1:05 p.m.

Wednesday, April 1                             Los Angeles Angels                 Tempe                                                   12:05 p.m.

Thursday, April 2                              Kansas City Royals                    Surprise Stadium                               12:05 p.m.

Friday, April 3                                    Kansas City Royals                 Dr Pepper Ballpark, Frisco             7:05 p.m. (CDT)

Saturday, April 4                               Kansas City Royals                    Rangers Ballpark in Arlington      1:05 p.m. (CDT)

 

Home Games in Bold                        Sundancers Charity Game on February 25 does not count towards Cactus League standings    

NOTE: Surprise is one hour behind Texas time through March 7 and 2 hours behind beginning March 8

SS-Split Squad

Cactus League Home Games Played at Surprise Stadium/Billy Parker Field, Surprise, AZ

Spring plans announced

Pitchers and catchers must report to Surprise, Ariz., on Feb. 14 for their first workouts the next day, and infielders and outfielders have a Feb. 18 report date for their first workout Feb. 19. The Rangers will play 36 spring games, 34 in Arizona, one April 3 in Frisco and the finale April 4 at Rangers Ballpark in Arlington. The two April contests are against Kansas City.

-- Jeff Wilson

Tazawa to Red Sox

The Boston Globe is reporting (link) that Japanese right-hander Junichi Tazawa has agreed to join the Boston Red Sox -- hardly shocking news to anyone, including the Rangers, who has been following the 22-year-old amateur.

The Rangers were one of four teams who met with Tazawa and submitted offers for him to consider. He phoned the Rangers on Friday and rejected their offer, according to the Kyodo News agency.

Two pitchers remain in a thin Japanese free-agent class -- Kenshin Kawakami and Koji Uehara. Both are 33, both are right-handed and, unlike Tazawa, both would likely slot into the middle or back end of a big-league rotation in 2009.

The Rangers have been linked as suitors of both, but does signing either one make sense as far as the Rangers' oft-stated long-term plans are concerned? Maybe, if being a force in the Pacific Rim is part of the plan. But good PR in Japan won't help the Rangers much the next few seasons.

-- Jeff Wilson