Diamondbacks Designate Gerald Laird for Assignment
Apr 8, 2015; Phoenix, AZ, USA; Arizona Diamondbacks catcher Gerald Laird (18) calls the play in the first inning against the San Francisco Giants at Chase Field. Mandatory Credit: Rick Scuteri-USA TODAY Sports
Gerald Laird received some good news and some bad news yesterday. The good news was that the Arizona Diamondbacks activated him from the 60-day disabled list. The bad news was he was then designated for assignment, per Nick Piecoro at azcentral:
Dbacks reinstate Gerald Laird from the 60-day disabled list and designate him for assignment. Their 40-man remains at 40.
— Nick Piecoro (@nickpiecoro) August 20, 2015
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The 35-year old catcher received two at-bats on April 8th for the D-backs before being put on the shelf with a back problem. He was signed to a one year, $1 million dollar contract by the team on February 2nd. Arizona was the sixth organization Laird spent time with since being selected by the Oakland A’s in the 2nd round of the 1998 Draft.
It was clear there was no room on the roster for the veteran. The D-backs have Welington Castillo entrenched as the starter and Jarrod Saltalamacchia as the backup/pinch-hitter extraordinaire. The team also has Rule 5 Pick Oscar Hernandez that is to remain in the Majors for the rest of the season. We wish Laird the best of luck as he looks to hook on with another organization.