"It's open," Washington said Thursday as pitchers and catchers reported to Spring Training.

The Rangers have six catchers in camp but two will compete for the starting job. In one corner is Gerald Laird, who was the Opening Day catcher in 2007, and in the other corner is Jarrod Saltalamacchia, a switch-hitting top prospect who is entering his first full season in the Major Leagues.

That is, if he makes the team. This will likely be the most competitive position battle in camp.

"That's what they told me, it's time to come in here and win a job," said Saltalamacchia, who was acquired from the Braves on July 31. "That's why I worked so hard in the offseason. I came out here a couple of times and to Texas a couple of times, doing a lot more extra work on my defense."

A year ago there was no doubt that Laird would be the starting catcher. But that was before his batting average went from .296 in 2006 to .224 last season while trying to be a leader behind the plate for a struggling, injury-ravaged pitching staff.

"I know I can hit," Laird said. "I had a rough year last year but I hit the year before. I guess I need to be more vocal with the pitchers, get to know them better and those guys in the strike zone. I feel I put my time in and have taken every step. I had a bad year last year and there's room for improvement. For me to have to earn a job, it's kind of ridiculous but I'll do whatever I have to do."

Clearly Saltalamacchia needs to improve his defense. He was just 1-of-17 throwing out basestealers over the past two months after being acquired from the Braves. He split time between catcher and first base but the Rangers now want him to concentrate strictly on catching.

"That's what I want to do," Saltalamacchia said. "My No. 1 love is catching. I just love it. If I played first base for a few years I'd probably love it too but I love to catch. I love to get beat up."

Laird, 29, has the edge in experience and defense. But the Rangers like Saltalamacchia's bat and feel he can be a competitive advantage for them once he masters the defensive nuances as well as working with a pitching staff.

He's not guaranteed a job. The Rangers have veterans Chris Stewart and Adam Melhuse in camp. If the Rangers feel Laird should be the No. 1 guy, Saltalamacchia could start the season in Triple-A Oklahoma refining his game.

"Let's just wait until we get into games," Washington said. "Right now we just want to get them into shape and get them ready to play."

Kinsler contract quiet: The Rangers have not resumed negotiations with Ian Kinsler's agents on a long-term contract. The two sides exchanged proposals at the end of January but were not close on a deal and haven't had any discussions since then.

"I would like to get something done and be a Ranger for a long time," Kinsler said. "But they have different ideas than me. I'll still play the game hard regardless if there is a deal or no deal."

Kinsler, who has two years of service time, is still unsigned for the season. His agents are due into camp in a couple of weeks, whether to work on a one-year deal or something longer.

"It's still something we'd like to do if it can be done in a fair and timely fashion," general manager Jon Daniels said.

Davis to first: The Rangers are moving highly regarded hitting prospect Chris Davis to first base. Davis, in camp as a non-roster invite, was drafted as a first baseman but was moved to third base last season. There was also talk of moving him to the outfield because of his plus throwing arm.

But right now the Rangers want him at first base. He is not expected to make the team but first baseman Ben Broussard is here on a one-year contract and Davis could be an option for the position next season.

"He'll most likely impact the club at first base so we want to get him going there," Daniels said.

News and features:

• Washington pleased with Rangers' lineup

• Jennings solid in final Cactus League start

• Guardado eager to fill Rangers' needs

• Rangers finalizing organization's rosters

• Hamilton continues to rake this spring

• Laird tabbed as Rangers' starting backstop

Multimedia:

• Laird's thoughts on catching job  400K

• Wilson reacts to getting closer gig  400K

• Young on Ichiro's praise  400K

• Millwood on first spring start  400K

• Hamilton on spring in Arizona  400K

• Mendoza feeling good  400K

Spring Training info:
• MLB.com coverage  |  Schedule  |  Ballpark  |  Tickets

Diamond target date: The Rangers are hoping pitcher Thomas Diamond will be pitching in Minor Leagues games by June 1. Diamond missed all of last year because of Tommy John elbow reconstruction surgery and that's the best-case target date the Rangers have set for his return. They are also hoping he can be ready to pitch in the big leagues by September.

"That's my goal," Diamond said. "I want to be pitching well enough by the end of the season that they'll give me a chance in September. First of all, I have to leave here. I've been here too long, since last February. I've been home just twice, once to get married and once for Christmas."

Botts dons first base glove: Jason Botts is in camp early and is already working out with Washington at first base. He had his third session with the manager on Thursday.

"We hit him 200 ground balls today and he missed three," Washington said. "That's good for a guy who is not supposed to be any good."

Botts, a switch-hitter, has played 237 games at first base in the Minor Leagues but just 18 in the past three seasons. The Rangers preferred him to concentrate on the outfield and there were also concerns that playing first base was causing him back problems. But that hasn't been a problem lately and being able to play first base could give him an advantage over others in winning a spot on the team.

He said it: "I didn't even pay attention to it. I'm so over all of that. I was playing golf." --  Kevin Millwood, on Roger Clemens' appearance before a Congressional committee

Briefly: Shortstop Joaquin Arias, who missed almost all of last season with a shoulder injury, is throwing again but the Rangers don't expect him to be ready when the games start on Feb. 27. ... Arias is a natural shortstop but the Rangers will use him at third and second. ... German Duran is a second baseman but he'll be used at third base and shortstop as well as left field. The Rangers are downplaying the possibility of using him at first base. ... Willie Eyre, who had Tommy John surgery in August, is in camp on a Minor League contract but not likely to pitch this year. He is not officially on the Spring Training roster but the Rangers have moved him into the Major League clubhouse with the rest of the team. ... Pitching coach Mark Connor on pitcher Brandon McCarthy: "He put on weight and strength. All the things we asked him to do this winter he appears to have done. ... Connor on Millwood: "He looks strong. His weight is the same but he has lost body fat. He feels a lot better about himself."