The Atlanta Braves found their replacement for former backup catcher David Ross. They signed Gerald Laird to a two-year deal yesterday, a down-grade after having someone as good as Ross backing up starting catcher Brian McCann.
The 33 year-old Laird has a lot of experience, he has played ten seasons in the big leagues with the Texas Rangers, two stints with the Detroit Tigers and the St. Louis Cardinals. He has gone to the past two World Series', winning with the Cardinals in 2011 and losing last season with the Tigers. He has a lifetime batting average of .244 and only 37 home runs in almost 700 career games.
Laird will be counted on to not only replace Ross, but to be Atlanta's starting catcher for most of the first month of the 2013 season. His defense is decent, but there will be a major hole offensively from the catcher's position in the lineup. Laird will have a lot of pressure to produce and the Braves' hitters will have more pressure to pick up the slack from McCann's absence. It's easy to say everyone will be much happier when McCann is back from his injury.
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