The Texas Rangers acquired catcher Bryan Holaday from the Detroit Tigers in exchange for right-handed pitcher Myles Jaye and catcher Bobby Wilson, the teams announced.
"I really appreciate everything the Tigers have done for me," Holaday said Tuesday night. "The people throughout the organization have been amazing and helped me develop as a player and a person. I'm going to miss everyone. I've had some great relationships that will continue.
"That being said, I couldn't be more excited. I dreamed of being a Texas Ranger growing up and it's just an unexplainable crazy feeling getting to go home and play for them. I thank Detroit for giving me the opportunity to play baseball and I can't wait to get to do that in Texas."
The Rangers looked to players like Jonathan Lucroy of the Milwaukee Brewers and Derek Norris of the San Diego Padres for catching help, but had to settle for a little less than their original hope at the start of the winter.
James McCann, Jarrod Saltalamacchia and Holaday were all good enough throughout spring to make the big league roster, but Detroit was only willing to keep two catchers on the roster and did not want to send Holaday or Saltalamacchia down to the minors.
In this situation, Holaday will get a fresh start and should be the backup catcher in Texas behind Robinson Chirinos, but could take over the starting role in the long run. As a defensive minded catcher, Holaday will command the backstop with ease. The catcher born in Dallas, Texas was drafted by the Tigers with the 193rd overall pick in the 2010 MLB Draft.
Wilson will head to Triple-A Toledo for the Tigers because he is on a minor league contract. The 32-year-old right-hander has hit just .204/.267/.303 at the major league level. The Rangers last resigned him to a minor league deal back on December 15, 2015. The 48th round pick by the Los Angeles Angels in the 2002 MLB Draft has only hit nine home runs and 51 RBI during 249 big league games.
The right-handed pitcher, Jaye, was traded to the Rangers on December 10, 2015 and is now headed to the Tigers, but he will serve as organizational depth in Double-A Erie. The 24-year-old has posted a 39-39 record with a 4.15 ERA across five minor league seasons in the organizations of the Toronto Blue Jays and Chicago White Sox.
Detroit is now left with McCann as the starting catcher and Saltalamacchia as the backup in the Motor City.
Across his four-year major league career, Holaday has slashed .251/.283/.340 with 65 hits, 12 doubles, one triple, three home runs and 30 RBI. This spring the 28-year-old right-hander has hit .438 with four home runs, 12 RBI and a 1.423 OPS.
Holaday will join the Rangers on Friday.