Braves Agree to Terms With Gerald Laird
November 16, 2012 at 11:59 am by David Lee under Atlanta Braves
The Braves quickly filled their need for a backup catcher Thursday by agreeing to terms on a two-year deal with Gerald Laird.
After losing David Ross to the Red Sox on Saturday, the Braves found themselves in need of a backup for Brian McCann, but also someone capable of starting for the weeks that McCann will sit following his shoulder surgery.
The Braves figure Laird is the man for the job, and he’s proven capable of being both a solid backup and starting in spurts. He’s a defense-first catcher, displaying a huge arm and working his feet and framing ability well. In the box, he owns a career .244/.303/.359 slash with a .293 wOBA and 72 wRC+.
There is no real split advantage to speak of, recording a career .313 wOBA vs. LHP and .284 vs. RHP, so while his career numbers against lefties are better than his overall career numbers, the results are still minimal.
Josh Worn of Walkoff Woodward, the Tigers blog on the ESPN SweetSpot Network, was gracious enough to provide his input on Laird.
Laird’s value to a MLB team comes solely as a backup player, where he became comfortable and, in turn, remarkably consistent in what seems to be his last year in Detroit.
Obviously to the untrained eye, his stats look far from impressive. He’s never been pegged as an offensive catcher (because he’s not), he doesn’t really have any advantage as a lefty or right split, and he’s about as slow as Benito Santiago with a piano strapped to his back.
(sss alert! batting ninth last year he OPSd .877 in 104 plate appearances! Wink Wink)
But Laird is interesting because he can really hold his weight in the lineup when he does play. So his offense really isn’t that much of a drain for his actual job. Defense.
He frames pitches better than any other catcher I’ve ever seen in Detroit and has a cannon for an arm. I don’t remember a bad throw he made to second base all year. If his pitchers could hold runners (which none of them can), his CS% of 19% last year would be more like the 35% he holds for his career.
That’s what Laird is. He can handle a pitching staff with ease and should fit right into Atlanta and work well with that staff. His teams have made it to the WS over the last two years so maybe he’s got some sort of voodoo vibe going on which can’t be a bad thing.
With Laird’s on-field abilities aside, the terms of the deal have not been announced, and the deal itself is pending a physical. Considering both Laird and Ross are receiving two-year deals, one would think Laird will receive less per year after the Braves allowed Ross to walk. Ross will be making $3.1 million per year in Boston after making $1.625 million each of the past two years in Atlanta. I would put Laird’s annual amount somewhere between the two, perhaps closer to Ross’ previous earnings.
For a backup catcher with great defense, it seems to be a pretty good deal for the Braves.
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At least we won’t get mad at Fredi for never pinch hitting him.
i really enjoy this comment!! frank wren just took the monkey right of fredi’s back, but i am sure he will still make enough wrong calls and we will soon forget about d. ross not being used as a pinch hitter…
“If his pitchers could hold runners (which none of them can), his CS% last year would be more like the 35% he holds for his career.”
“…and should fit right into Atlanta…”
Yes, at least maybe he won’t be disappointed with Hanson’s runner-holding ‘ability’ (career 19% CS).
Thinking Hanson won’t be around to display his awesome ability to hold runners close to the bag and a lightning quick delivery to the plate……
Completely off-topic, but one of the most depressing sentences I’ve ever read in my life…
Found on the Braves’ transaction list on ESPN.com
“Declined 2013 option for 3B Chipper Jones.”
:sadface:
My saddest was when Murph was traded away…
I know a lot of people were upset with Wren for not paying the money Ross got from Boston, but in all reality they are overpaying for a back up catcher. They can afford too, we can not. I hate seeing him leave but I welcome another great defensive catcher. Hopefully he has a couple good years at the plate, not just behind it.
If the Braves can sign any decent hitting righty bench bat, David Ross will not be as missed. Obviously having Laird in the lineup every day to begin the season will hurt, but our offense would not have relied heavily on Ross in that role either. Having Ross would be ideal, but for a team like the Braves, backup catcher is one of the places we CAN’T overpay. The truth is, there are 7 other guys in the order that should be able to produce. If Laird can post any number above replacement, and Fredi learns how to use bench bats, losing Ross will not be as big of a deal as it seems now.
As Eric Hinske showed, the good luck charm theory (with being in the past two World Series), doesn’t usually hold up. On another note, since Laird’s hitting doesn’t drop off too much in lefty/righty splits, would it be wise to let Laird give McCann a day off when we are throwing Maholm or Minor, our lefty starters? Lefties (out of the stretch, of course) can generally hold runners at first base much better, and Detroit’s rotation consisted of five righties last year. Of course, I’m not really all too familiar with metrics that measure how well pitchers hold runners, so there might be a righty on the staff that would be an even better fit for Laird’s arm.
I think it has more to do with the move and less to do with the handedness. Kris Medlen has a ridiculous move to first that runners definitely have to honor.
Is Laird actually good at framing pitches, though? The pitch framing research that Mike Fast did seems to say otherwise. Laird was ranked the only second to Ryan Doumit as the worth catcher at pitch framing.
I don’t really mind the Laird signing, and I know he has reputation of being a good defensive catch, but I can’t find any data really backing that up. Sure, he’s good at throwing out runners, but hasn’t been the last two years. It seems to be his defensive reputation has been built solely around that, but I could be wrong.
This says that he was the 2nd worst catcher in MLB at pitch framing from 2007-2011. I wish they would publish the 2012 results.
http://www.baseballprospectus.com/article.php?articleid=15093
Fangraphs says he is 11th in catcher DRS since 2007 (min 1000 innings played) which is pretty darn good to me. and he’s 6th in RPP (pitch blocking runs saved) in that same time.
not bad at all
He’s also a backup catcher. BACKUP.
I’m running the risk of sounding like a moron for saying this, but I wouldnt mind seeing Gattis get a shot while McCann is rehabbing. You know, just for shits n giggles.
I wouldn’t mind Gattis getting a shot to backup Laird til Mac returns. If he hits, keep him on the bench as a 3rd catcher 5th OF’er. If he struggles, send him to Gwinnett when Mac returns.
Hearing rumors that Wren is working on a deal with the Giants to get Posey?? And that Heyward may be involved?! This is insanity! What would become of McCann?
I didn’t even realize Lance Berkman was a FA. Doesn’t he make a whole lot of sense?
For the Astros, to DH? Yes. For the Braves, No.
Not on what Berkman is asking for. There’s no position for him on our team anyway plus he’s mostly a DH position player now. See link below.
http://www.mlbtraderumors.com/2012/11/lance-berkman-open-to-playing-for-astros.html
I’m itching for a new podcast. Does anybody else think 5/65 is ridiculous for BJ Upton? That’s Jose Bautista money!
Ahmed and Teheran for Justin Upton to play LF?
Thoughts?
@Alex/Anybody,
I know Teheran has struggled the few times he’s started in Atlanta, but I read on ESPN yesterday he’s “projected as a solid 2-3 starter.” I guess he’s no longer the Ace that he was a year or two ago? Do you think he’s still seen as a good enough center piece for a potential Justin Upton trade?
Tell me what you guys think of the Braves signing Rayburn to play LF. Don’t hate on this signing because he can play other positions too.
I like that Ahmed and Teheran for Upton I still would throw in Uggla. And what are your thoughts of trying Pastornicky in Left?
You mean that guy who couldn’t hit enough to stay at shortstop. Love it!!
dumb.
Rayburn’s only value is as a utility man. If he would accept a minor league deal with an invite…sure why not, let him battle the Rev for the last bench spot or something.
anything more than that is a no.
Gomes for 6-8m over 2 years. Would really like to see that platoon. Makes Cody Ross’ lefty splits look pretty pedestrian.