The Tampa Bay Rays have acquired catcher Ryan Hanigan in a trade with the Cincinnati Reds. The Arizona Diamondback have surfaced as a third team in the deal. The Reds will acquire left-hander David Holmberg from the Diamondbacks.
Reliever Heath Bell will also be heading to Tampa Bay. Bell, 36, posted a 4.11 ERA and 72/16 K/BB ratio over 65 2/3 innings this past season. He’s under contract for $9 million next year most of which will be paid by the Miami Marlins.
The Diamondbacks will receive minor league lefty Justin Choate from the Rays along with a player to be named later or cash in the deal.
Hanigan endured a painful 2013 season, dealing with wrist and oblique injuries that limited him to 75 games and sent his batting average down to .198. and the Reds moved on.
However he has a .359 career on-base percentage and a reputation as a strong defender and reliable game-caller. He led the league in caught-stealing percentage in 2013 (45 percent) and 2012 (48 percent).
Hanigan is the prototypical reclamation project the Rays seem to gravitate towards. In his previous four seasons Hanigan hit .275/.370/.359. That is the Hanigan the Rays are banking on.
Hanigan will make $2.3 million through arbitration this off-season, and number that is comfortable for the always cost-conscious Rays.
After re-signing Jose Molina and having holdover Jose Lobaton, bringing Hanigan aboard would give the Rays three catchers.
Marc Topkin of the Tampa Bay Times is reporting that Loboton may soon be dealt and said the Rays will use Hanigan as their primary catcher
