John Blake, the Rangers’ executive VP of communications, announced on Twitter that the club has acquired catcher Bryan Holaday from the Tigers in exchange for pitcher Myles Jaye and catcher Bobby Wilson. The Rangers designated pitcher Sam Freeman for assignment to clear up room on the 40-man roster.
The trade doesn’t come as any surprise as Holaday was out of options and the Tigers were set to break camp with a catching corps of James McCann and Jarrod Saltalamacchia. The Rangers have had a much-publicized need for catching help, including sustained interest in the Brewers’ Jonathan Lucroy.
Holaday, 28, has a career .251/.283/.340 batting line. He will serve as the back-up to starter Robinson Chirinos.
Wilson, who turns 33 in April, has a career .204/.267/.303 batting line.
Jaye, 24, spent the 2015 season in the White Sox minor league system at Double-A Birmingham. He made 26 starts with a 3.29 ERA and a 104/47 K/BB ratio in 147 2/3 innings.