Catchers just keep moving around this winter.
The Reds, who signed free-agent backstop Brayan Pena earlier this offseason, have traded Ryan Hanigan to the Rays as part of a three-team deal that also involves the Diamondbacks, according to John Fay of the Cincinnati Enquirer. It’s unclear at this point who besides Hanigan is on the move.
FOX Sports’ Ken Rosenthal and Jon Morosi first reported Tuesday that Hanigan was being traded to Tampa Bay. The deal comes as no surprise, though, as Cincinnati’s signing of Pena made it very likely that Hanigan would be dealt at some point this offseason. Many speculated that the Red Sox might become interested in Hanigan, but Boston reportedly signed A.J. Pierzynski to a one-year contract Tuesday.
Hanigan is a very strong defensive catcher who has a track record of getting on base, although he struggled offensively in 2013. The 33-year-old, who hit .198 with a .306 on-base percentage in 75 games this past season, caught a career-high 112 games in 2012. He posted a career-high .300 (61-for-203) average and .405 on-base percentage in 70 games in 2010.
Hanigan will form a tandem with Jose Molina, who re-signed with the Rays on a two-year deal earlier this offseason. According to ESPN’s Buster Olney, Hanigan is getting a three-year, $11 million contract from Tampa.
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Photo via Wikipedia/Ryan Hanigan
