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SURPRISE, Ariz. -- Gerald Laird won his duel with Jarrod Saltalamacchia for the job as the Texas Rangers' starting catcher.
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Saltalamacchia was optioned to the Rangers' minor league camp Wednesday. The 22-year-old switch-hitter, acquired in the July trade that sent Mark Teixeira to Atlanta, will catch every day at Triple-A Oklahoma.
The Rangers spent spring training allowing Laird, the opening day starter last season, and Saltalamacchia to compete for the starting job. The two split the job the final two months of last season.
Saltalamacchia hit .250 in 13 spring training games, with two home runs and eight RBI and eight strikeouts. In 14 games before Wednesday, Laird was hitting .263 with four homers and nine RBI.
Texas could have kept Laird and Saltalamacchia on the major league roster, but the Rangers want Saltalamacchia to continue his development as a catcher by playing every day rather than splitting time with Laird.
Right-hander Kameron Loe also was optioned to the minors. Loe was 0-1 with a 6.59 ERA in 13 2/3 innings over nine spring appearances. Loe began the past two seasons with the Rangers.
