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The Rays have acquired catcher Hank Conger from the Astros in exchange for cash considerations, according to a club announcement. Conger was considered a candidate to be non-tendered by Houston before the midnight deadline.
Conger, 27, will join Rene Rivera and Curt Casali in the mix behind the plate for a Rays' team that has struggled getting production from the catching position for years. Conger will likely see significant time along with Rivera, who was tendered a contract on Wednesday despite some speculation that Tampa could let him walk in free agency.
Houston has Jason Castro as its primary catcher and also has Max Stassi ready to see more playing time next season, so Conger was an expendable asset. The Astros could also catching at some point this offseason.
Conger is a veteran of six major-league seasons with the Angels (2010-14) and Astros (2015), and is the owner of a lifetime .225/.298/.375 line with 28 home runs in 324 career games. He is thought to be an above-average defensive catcher, and is known as one of the better pitch-framers in all of baseball.