The Cincinnati Reds traded catcher Ryan Hanigan to the Tampa Bay Rays, Ken Rosenthal of FOX Sports reported on Tuesday.
Hanigan’s departure isn’t particularly surprising, given the Reds inked Brayan Pena to a two-year, $4.5 million deal a few weeks back, according to CBS Sports.
Although the Rays signed catcher Jose Molina to a two-year deal earlier this offseason, Tampa Bay Times writer Marc Topkin believes Hanigan will be the primary starter.
Hearing Hanigan will be #Rays primary catcher, so maybe Lobaton is being dealt. And Hanigan, who was arb eligible, could sign multiyear deal
— Marc Topkin (@TBTimes_Rays) December 3, 2013
ESPN’s Buster Olney reported Hanigan’s deal is worth $11 million over three years.
The 33-year-old Hanigan is a career .262 hitter. He finished last season with two homers, 21 RBIs and a .198 batting average.
The Rays will also receive pitcher Heath Bell in a three-team trade that includes the Arizona Diamondbacks, Nick Piecoro of the Arizona Republic reported Tuesday afternoon.
The rest of the deal includes the Diamondbacks receiving Single-A pitcher Justin Choate and the Reds acquiring pitcher David Holmberg, Rosenthal tweeted.
