The Diamondbacks have agreed to a minor league deal with catcher Hank Conger, SB Nation’s Chris Cotillo reports (Twitter links). Conger, a Wasserman client, will receive a $950K base salary if he makes the big league roster and has another $450K available via incentives.
Conger, who turned 29 last week, spent the 2016 season with the Rays but struggled through a career-worst year at the plate. In 137 plate appearances, the switch-hitter batted .194/.265/.306 with three homers and five doubles. Prior to that season, he’d posted a .233/.304/.389 batting line across three seasons with the Angels and Astros.
Conger has gone through extreme struggles in terms of preventing the running game in recent seasons (10.5 percent caught-stealing rate), but he was solid in that regard in the three preceding seasons. Beyond that, Conger routinely grades out as an above average pitch-framer.
The D-backs have overhauled their catching corps this offseason, surprisingly non-tendering Welington Castillo. Following that decision, the new D-backs front office inked Jeff Mathis to a two-year deal and Chris Iannetta to a one-year deal. Since that time, the D-backs have added both Josh Thole and Conger on minor league deals, while outfielder/catcher Chris Herrmann remains on the roster as yet another option behind the dish.
Don’t know much about this guy but I remember he hit a grand salami vs. Dbacks @ Minute Maid in 2015. I was there 🙁
Was gonna say – thought he wasn’t a FAN. Rays had hella catchers!
(I update MLB the show rosters daily!!)
FA** not fan lol
Whatever they are paying him is worth it for that robot dance he does after his team hits a home run.
Don’t forget about Iannetta
Mike Hazen won’t stop until he has all the free agent catchers remaining.
It’s been a weak point on our team since Montero got traded away, so hey, let’s sign a bunch and see who sticks around.
Welington was pretty good. I thought they should’ve re signed him
Pitch-framing gets Hazen turgid.
3 former Angel Catchers signed by ARZ this offseason. Lol
Not like they were particularly good….
Especially in two of those cases. Looking at you Mathis and Conger
Conger wasn’t bad for the halos
Mathis was actually a pretty steady defender. He just couldn’t hit to save his life.
The dbacks are gonna get all the catchers
So… Waiting for the inevitable Matt Wieters and Dioner Navarro signings in Arizona.
Conger & Thole, they really like their catchers who can’t hit….
And conger can’t play a lick of defense.
This is about addressing depth.
I never liked Conger. Didn’t really have a reason, I just thought he sucked.