by Ken Rosenthal

MLB Hot Stove

Ken Rosenthal and our MLB crew have you covered. Check out all the news and notes from the hot stove. Angels sign Abreu to 1-year deal Sources: Nats land Dunn w/2-year deal Updates: Lefty relievers getting offers Wolf, Dodgers agree to $5M deal Sources: Mets ink deal to keep Perez Braves, Kotchman avoid arbitration Sources: Rays, Shouse OK deal Report: Varitek to stay with BoSox Mets, Maine avoid arbitration Pirates sign P Maholm to 3-year deal

The Tigers made the deal official Monday.

The deal figures to end any chance of the Tigers signing free-agent catcher Jason Varitek, who declined salary arbitration from the Red Sox on Sunday night.

Laird, a strong defensive catcher, is a .255 career hitter with a .306 on-base percentage. He earned $1.6 million last season in his first year of arbitration, and is two years from free agency.

The Tigers also are seeking an inexpensive solution at shortstop, a position in which they are considering free agents Adam Everett and Nick Punto, with Everett the apparent preference.

Moscoso, 25, was 2-3 with a 2.42 ERA at Single-A Lakeland last season and 3-1 with a 3.12 ERA at Double-A Erie, striking out 122 and walking only 21 in 86 2/3 innings.

The second prospect in the deal is a 17-year-old pitcher who spent last season in the Dominican Summer League, the source said.