The spring-long wait for catcher Bryan Holaday’s roster fate ended Tuesday night, when the Tigers traded their former backup to the Texas Rangers for catcher Bobby Wilson and right-handed pitching prospect Miles Jaye.
Holaday, a former Tigers draft pick who backed up Alex Avila for much of 2014, was on trade watch since Detroit signed veteran Jarrod Saltalamacchia in December. Though the Tigers would’ve liked the catching depth behind second-year starter James McCann, Holaday is out of minor-league options and would’ve had to clear waivers to be outrighted to Triple-A Toledo.
Holaday helped his case with a standout spring offensively, while adding defensive versatility with playing time at third base and left field.