ST. PETERSBURG, Fla. – The Tampa Bay Rays have acquired catcher Ryan Hanigan from the Cincinnati Reds and reliever Heath Bell from the Arizona Diamondbacks in a three-team trade.
The deal was announced Monday after Hanigan agreed to a $10.75 million, three-year contract that runs through 2016 an includes a club option for 2017.
Tampa Bay sent minor league pitcher Justin Choate and a player to be named to the Diamondbacks. Arizona dealt left-hander David Holmberg to Cincinnati.
The 33-year-old Hanigan is expected to become Tampa Bay's primary catcher. The trade was completed a day after free agent catcher Jose Molina was re-signed to a $4.5 million, two-year contract.
Bell will be a candidate to become the Rays' closer.
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