With Brian McCann expected to be out well into September following knee surgery, the Astros appear to be monitoring the market for a possible addition behind the plate.
Jon Morosi of MLB.com took to Twitter this afternoon to report that the Astros and Tampa Bay Rays have discussed their veteran All-Star Catcher, Wilson Ramos.
The 30 year old veteran is in his 9th big league season, having one of his most productive seasons of his career at the plate. Next week he'll be starting for AJ Hinch's American League All-Star team in Washington D.C., where Ramos spent the first seven seasons in the big leagues with the Nationals.
Ramos, a now two time All-Star, is hitting .291 with 14 home runs and 51 runs batted in, in his 75 games this season.
In 2016, Ramos made his first All-Star team as a member of the Nationals, hitting .307 at the plate in 131 games that season while popping 22 home runs and driving in 80 runs. In late September of that 2016 season, he tore his ACL, an injury that would hurt his value on the free agent market that winter.
The Venezuelan catcher signed a 2 year, 12.5 million dollar deal ahead of the 2017 season with the Rays, and wouldn't make his debut with them until the 24th of June. In 64 games with the Rays in 2017, Ramos hit .260 with 11 home runs and 45 runs batted in.
He enjoyed hitting at Minute Maid Park earlier this season, hitting a home run against the Astros in the three game series that saw him go three for nine at the plate, while also drawing three walks against Astros pitching. The 9 year vet has appeared in over 700 games at the big league level, hitting .270 in his career with 109 home runs and 407 runs batted in. He will be a free agent after the 2018 season.