Braves Sign Catcher Laird To Back Up McCann
ATLANTA (AP) — The Atlanta Braves have agreed to a two-year deal with backup catcher Gerald Laird.
The 33-year-old Laird has appeared in the last two World Series. He played for the Detroit Tigers this past season, hitting .282 with two homers and 11 RBIs, and the St. Louis Cardinals in 2011.
The Braves targeted Laird after David Ross, who backed up Brian McCann the past four seasons, signed with the Boston Red Sox. McCann underwent shoulder surgery last month and could miss the first month of the 2013 season.
Laird has a lifetime average of .244 with 37 homers in 10 seasons. Financial terms of the deal have not been released.
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