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Catcher: Rangers C for Young Pitcher

by Matthew Cerrone on November 3rd, 2008 at 9:26 am

Last week, in a report on SI.com, Jon Heyman wrote that Omar Minaya’s top priority is to upgrade his team’s bullpen, followed by catcher, the rotation and possibly the outfield.

That said, the Rangers are willing to trade C Gerald Laird, according to one baseball source, reports the Boston Globe.

According to Evan Grant in the Dallas Morning News, the Rangers will actually listen to offers for all of their catchers, including Max Ramirez, Laird and Jarrod Saltalamacchia.

However, in all cases, writes Grant, the Rangers will want a top-flight, proven, under-contract, young pitcher in return.

Additionally, the Mets have discussed trading for Giants C Bengie Molina, writes Heyman.

Speaking of catcher, according to Heyman, Boston will offer C Jason Varitek a two-year deal, but not the four-year contract he is looking for

Varitek, as well Brad Ausmus, Josh Bard, Paul Lo Duca, Pudge Rodriguez, among others, are all free agents.