ST. LOUIS (AP) — Free-agent catcher Gerald Laird and the St. Louis Cardinals have reached agreement on a $1 million, one-year contract.
The 31-year-old Laird hit .207 with five home runs and 25 RBIs last season in a part-time role with Detroit. He’s expected to be a backup to Yadier Molina with the Cardinals.
Tuesday’s deal includes the chance to make an additional $300,000 in performance bonuses.
Laird leads all major league catchers over the last five years in throwing out would-be basestealers. He’s thrown out 142 of them, catching nearly 36 percent in that span.
