The Detroit Tigers are set to bring back catcher Gerald Laird, according to Jon Morosi. Morosi and Ken Rosenthal reported on Thursday morning that the Tigers were close to signing a backup catcher, and apparently the backup catcher is Laird and not Kelly Shoppach.
Shoppach was a possibility for the
#Tigers in recent days, but Laird is now their top choice.
Laird spent the 2009 and 2010 seasons in Detroit as their starting catcher. He had a batting average of .225 and .207 in '09 and '10, respectively. This past season, he played for the St. Louis Cardinals and won a World Series.
Although I'm sure many Tigers fans are not thrilled with the idea of Laird returning to Detroit, the important thing is he will be a backup, not a starter. Alex Avila is the Tigers' starting catcher, and Laird is merely being signed to give Avila a chance to rest every now and then in 2012.