Major League Baseball

Astros pick up $5.2 million option on contract of Gattis

Updated Mar. 4, 2020 5:53 p.m. ET

foxsports

HOUSTON (AP) The Houston Astros have picked up catcher/designated hitter Evan Gattis' $5.2 million second-year option.

The Astros had the option of buying out his contract for $100,000, but instead chose to pick up his option on Friday and give him a $2 million raise over this season's $3.2 million salary.

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 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 later. Neshek went 5-8 with a 3.36 ERA in 126 appearances over two seasons for Houston.