Astros make non-tender deadline decisions, trade Conger to Rays
The Houston Astros made some roster decisions on Wednesday night in time for the non-tender deadline. In addition to cutting slugger Chris Carter loose, the Astros traded catcher Hank Conger to the Tampa Bay Rays for cash considerations:
#Astros officially trade C Hank Conger to Tampa Bay in exchange for cash considerations.
— Houston Astros (@astros) December 3, 2015
In 73 games for the Astros in 2015, Conger hit .229/.311/.448 with 11 home runs and 33 RBI as Jason Castro's backup.
Correction: SIX other Astros— Marwin, Dallas, Castro, Fields, Gattis, Valbuena — tendered contracts. https://t.co/ZkaGEX8zRP
— Evan Drellich (@EvanDrellich) December 3, 2015
In addition to setting Conger and Carter loose, Houston tendered 2016 contracts to six other players: Marwin Gonzalez, Dallas Keuchel, Jason Castro, Josh Fields, Evan Gattis and Luis Valbuena.
Dealing away Conger is intriguing in that it now leaves the team with one full-time catcher in Castro. That presents two potential scenarios for GM Jeff Luhnow: Giving young Max Stassi the reigns as Castro's backup is one, and the other is that perhaps the Conger deal will preclude something bigger on the trade or free-agency front.
The Astros are hoping to make it back to the postseason in 2016, so this could very well be a precursor to some additional moves in the not-too-distant future.
