Thu Aug 20 2015 | 19:12 | Laird (back) activated from 60-day DL and designated for assignm... |
Laird (back) was activated from the 60-day DL and designated for assignment by the Diamondbacks on Thursday. |
With Laird's rehab window up and the Diamondbacks not needing another backstop on the roster, the team just went and effectively cut the 35-year-old loose, though there's an outside chance he could accept an outright assignment to the minors. Laird went 8-for-26 with a double and four RBI during his rehab stint after missing the first four months of the season with a back injury. |
Tue Apr 21 2015 | 17:30 | Laird (back) transferred to 60-day DL on Tuesday |
Laird (back) was transferred to the 60-day DL on Tuesday. |
An official diagnosis of Laird's injury still has not been provided, but evidently the Diamondbacks determined Laird will need at least couple months to recover from the back issue. Danny Dorn took Laird's spot on the 40-man roster. |
Sun Apr 12 2015 | 12:42 | Laird (back) placed on 15-day DL by Diamondbacks |
Laird (back) has been placed on the 15-day DL by the Diamondbacks. |
Laird will be eligble to return April 24 because the assignment to the DL is retroactive to April 9. With the 35-year-old backup out, the Diamondbacks will turn to Jordan Pacheco to occasionally spell Tuffy Gosewich. |
Sat Apr 11 2015 | 16:28 | Laird late scratch from Saturday's game as he experiencing back ... |
Laird was a late scratch from Saturday's game as he is experiencing back issues, the Arizona Republic's Nick Piecoro reports. |
The Diamondbacks wanted him to catch Archie Bradley in the rookie's first big league start, but instead Tuffy Gosewisch will get the start behind the dish. Consider Laird day-to-day for now. |
Thu Apr 9 2015 | 10:46 | Laird 0-2 in Arizona debut Wednesday, 5-2 loss to Giants |
Laird went 0-for-2 in his Arizona debut Wednesday, a 5-2 loss to the Giants. |
Laird will be the DBacks primary backup catcher behind Tuffy Gosewich. His offensive upside is limited coming off a season in which he batted .204/.275/.257 in Atlanta and he may lose the occasional start to Jordan Pecheco the DBacks third catcher, so he is largely to be avoided except in very deep and NL-only leagues. |
Sun Apr 5 2015 | 00:51 | Laird officially added to 25-man roster |
Laird was officially added to the 25-man roster. |
Both Laird and Jordan Pacheco made the 25-man roster, so Arizona will have two backup catchers behind Tuffy Gosewisch. |
Tue Mar 24 2015 | 16:58 | Laird's teammate Tuffy Gosewisch named Diamondbacks' starting ca... |
Laird's teammate Tuffy Gosewisch was named the Diamondbacks' starting catcher Monday, as reported by the Arizona Republic. General manager Dave Stewart did not guarantee Laird the back up job, but did expect him to compete, "The backup job is not Laird's, but if Laird does make our team we expect him to be a backup to Gosewisch." |
Laird's job might be in jeopardy as soon as the D-backs call up Peter O'Brien or once Rule 5 pick Oscar Hernandez recovers from a broken hamate bone. Laird is 35 years old, and has only started 100 games in a season twice. He might get at-bats on Gosewisch's off days, but Laird is a tough player to roster at this point in his career. |
Sat Mar 21 2015 | 10:47 | Laird appears to be frontrunner to make Opening Day roster in ta... |
Laird appears to be a frontrunner to make the Opening Day roster in a tandem with Tuffy Gosewisch, the Arizona Republic reports. |
It's unclear if Laird or Gosewisch will receive the Opening Day nod, but the playing time could be split pretty evenly until the D-backs gain confidence in Peter O'Brien's defense, or until Rule 5 pick Oscar Hernandez recovers from a broken hamate bone. Neither Laird nor Gosewisch offer much with the bat, but an improved Arizona lineup should enable whichever player is getting more at-bats to accrue a modicum of value as an endgame option in deeper NL-only formats. |
Mon Feb 2 2015 | 14:35 | Laird will sign minor league deal with Diamondbacks |
Laird will sign a minor league deal with the Diamondbacks, Jerry Crasnick of ESPN reports. |
Laird, 35, saw time in 53 games for the Braves last season, struggling to a .204/.275/.257 slash line with a .532 OPS in 152 at-bats. It was the lowest mark of his career and a sign that his effectiveness as a hitter may be waning at this point in his career. If Laird makes the team out of spring training, it will likely be due to his contributions behind the plate, rather than what he's able to do as a hitter. |
Thu Nov 6 2014 | 13:27 | Laird elected free agency |
Laird elected free agency. |
Laird struggled to the tune of a .532 OPS in 2014, the lowest mark of his 11-year career and more than 200 points below his 2013 number (.739). Veteran catching depth is always in demand, but Laird will turn 35 next week and may have to settle for a minor league deal with an invite to spring training. |
Sat Jul 5 2014 | 04:11 | Gerald Laird returned to action on Friday July 4 |
Gerald Laird returned to action on Friday July 4. |
Source: Rotoworld.com | |
Fri Jul 4 2014 | 09:10 | Gerald Laird (oblique) expects to play Friday |
Gerald Laird (oblique) expects to return to the lineup Friday. |
Christian Bethancourt has caught three straight games while Laird nurses a right oblique strain that he originally suffered a couple weeks ago. However, Laird thinks he'll be ready to roll Friday. "If (Bethancourt) wasn't here I could play, (Braves manager Fredi Gonzalez) knows that," said Laird. "(Gonzalez) just said, let's nip it in the bud and then Friday will probably be my day to play." |
Source: Atlanta Journal-Constitution | |
Sun Jun 15 2014 | 04:32 | Gerald Laird returned to action on Saturday June 14 |
Gerald Laird returned to action on Saturday June 14. |
Source: Rotoworld.com | |
Thu Jun 12 2014 | 18:12 | Gerald Laird doesn't have concussion |
Braves manager Fredi Gonzalez said Thursday that it appears Gerald Laird did not suffer a concussion. |
Laird left Thursday's game against the Rockies after he was hit in the mask by Corey Dickerson's backswing, but it appears he's avoided a serious issue. Consider the catcher day-to-day. |
Source: Mark Bowman on Twitter | |
Thu Jun 12 2014 | 17:45 | Laird exits game after being hit by backswing |
Gerald Laird left Thursday's game against the Rockies in the eighth inning after he was hit in the mask by Corey Dickerson's backswing. |
Laird was on the ground for a moment before being helped off the field. He was replaced in the game by Evan Gattis. The Braves should pass along on update on Laird's status soon, but he'll undoubtedly be tested for a possible concussion. |
Source: David O'Brien on Twitter | |
Sat May 24 2014 | 00:03 | Laird has two RBI in win over Rockies |
Gerald Laird went 2-for-4 with two RBI in Friday's 3-2 victory over the Rockies. |
Laird did most of the heavy lifting for the Braves' offense on Friday, as he delivered an RBI double in the bottom of the second inning and later hit a go-ahead RBI single in the eighth. The veteran backstop is batting .208/.288/.264 through 18 games this season. He's a perfectly useful backup catcher, but nights like this one figure to be few and far between. |
Source: Rotoworld.com | |
Tue May 20 2014 | 22:19 | Laird has two hits, run scored versus Brewers |
Gerald Laird went 2-for-4 with a run scored against the Brewers on Tuesday. |
Laird has appeared in 15 games this year, but Tuesday was his first multi-hit game. The catcher also scored in the Braves' three-run third inning. Laird is primarily a backup to Evan Gattis, who missed Tuesday's game due to viral symptoms. |
Source: Rotoworld.com | |
Thu Mar 6 2014 | 12:57 | Gerald Laird (back) nearly ready to return |
Gerald Laird (back) is nearly ready to return to Grapefruit League games. |
Laird has been out for a week with a lower back strain, but he caught a few side sessions on Wednesday and woke up Thursday without any major discomfort. He should be 100 percent by the start of the regular season. |
Source: Mark Bowman on Twitter | |
Sun Mar 2 2014 | 10:44 | Gerald Laird (back) not ready yet |
Gerald Laird (back) will be sidelined at least a few more days. |
Laird left Thursday's game with a lower back strain and his back remains an issue. There's no reason for the Braves to push him at this point, as he has plenty of time to get ready for Opening Day. |
Source: David O'Brien on Twitter | |
Thu Feb 27 2014 | 14:28 | Gerald Laird leaves game with back strain |
Gerald Laird left Thursday's Grapefruit League game against the Tigers with a lower back strain. |
The Braves are calling him "day-to-day." Laird could need a week or so of rest, but he should have no problem catching up before the start of the 2014 regular season. |
Source: Mark Bowman on Twitter | |