Baseball: Rangers trade Diaz to the Expo's

The Texas Rangers traded catcher Einar Diaz to the Montreal Expos, clearing a roster spot for Gerald Laird. Texas also sent minor league pitcher Justin Echols to the Expos for switch-hitting catcher Josh McKinley, Montreal's top draft pick in 1998, and right-hander Chris Young, a Dallas native. Texas will pay $2 million of Diaz's $2.5 million salary under the terms of Saturday's deal. Diaz, who took over last year from 10-time All-Star Ivan Rodriguez, started 95 games last year. He hit .257 and threw out 31 percent (22 of 71) of runners attempting to steal. The 24-year-old Laird, who hit .273 in his only 19 major league games last season, batted .407 this spring. Laird and Rod Barajas, who played for Texas manager Buck Showalter in Arizona, will split time to start the season.