HOUSTON (AP) - The Astros have exercised catcher/designated hitter Evan Gattis’ $5.2 million option for 2017.
Gattis gets a $2 million raise. Houston could have paid a $100,000 buyout, which would have made Gattis eligible for salary arbitration.
Gattis hit .251 with a career-high and team-leading 32 homers with 72 RBIs in his second season in Houston after spending the first two years of his career with the Atlanta Braves. He started 136 games as the team’s designated hitter in 2015 before the Astros transitioned him into their backup catcher this season. He started 49 games at catcher in 2016 and appeared in 71 games as designated hitter.
Also on Friday, the Astros traded reliever Pat Neshek to the Philadelphia Phillies for a player to be named. Neshek went 5-8 with a 3.36 ERA in 126 appearances over two seasons for Houston.
Philadelphia exercised a $6.5 million on Neshek, which could have been bought out for $500,000.
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