"Gerald Laird is the Texas Rangers' starting catcher, a statement that has been made on a number of occasions the past two seasons but always with a caveat.

For now.

He entered spring training as the starter, but he had to fend off Jarrod Saltalamacchia until the final week before securing the job.

That lasted all of a month before Saltalamacchia forced his way onto the roster with a hot start in Triple A. The solution was to play Laird two days, followed by two for Saltalamacchia.

That lasted until June, when Laird pulled a hamstring and went on the disabled list. He came off it Saturday and was handed the starting job for the stretch run.

For now.

Visit any Web site that tracks rumors as baseball's trade deadline nears, and Laird is a player who is coveted by a number of teams. Major league sources have confirmed that the Rangers have been contacted about Laird's availability.

But he isn't letting the talk bother him. He's been in this spot, not knowing his future with the Rangers, and understands there's nothing he can do until he lands on the transaction wire.

"I just play the game," Laird said. "Wherever I end up, I end up. I can't control it. You can't worry about it. Right now, I'm a Texas Ranger."

The deadline for teams to make a trade without players having to pass through waivers is 3 p.m. Thursday. Business will start to pick up today and early tomorrow.

Laird's name, though, has been on the radar for a few weeks, even while he was rehabbing his hamstring. The New York Yankees were the first to show interest, and now the Cincinnati Reds, Florida Marlins and Milwaukee Brewers have entered the picture.

General manager Jon Daniels declined to mention which teams have contacted the Rangers, and he also refused to mention specific players discussed.

No player - Hank Blalock, Vicente Padilla, Eddie Guardado, Saltalamacchia and Taylor Teagarden all have made turns through the rumor mill - will be shipped out without a significant piece in return.

"Fifty percent or more of what you read is inaccurate," Daniels said. "We're getting a number of calls on some guys, but I'm not inclined to trade guys just for the sake of it."

Perhaps that's one reason Daniels later said the Rangers might not make any move before the deadline. A source said the Rangers aren't shopping the 28-year-old Laird, either.

Laird wants someone to clarify his position with the organization. Is he their starting catcher only until they find the right deal, be it this week or in the off-season? Or is he the Rangers' catcher of the future instead of Saltalamacchia, Teagarden or Max Ramirez?"