D-backs acquire Justin Choate and a player to be named later from Tampa Bay Rays as part of three-team trade

PHOENIX - The Arizona Diamondbacks (@Dbacks) have acquired right-handed pitcher Justin Choate and a player to be named later or cash considerations as part of a three-team trade that sent right-handed pitcher Heath Bell and cash considerations to the Tampa Bay Rays. The D-backs also traded left-handed pitcher David Holmberg to the Cincinnati Reds, who then sent catcher Ryan Hanigan to the Rays. The announcements were made by D-backs Executive Vice President & General Manager Kevin Towers.

Choate, 22, was 1-3 with 6 saves and a 2.88 ERA (13 ER in 40.2 IP) in 16 relief appearances with Short-Season A Hudson Valley. He signed with the Rays as a Minor League free agent on June 24, 2013 after pitching with the Roswell Invaders of the independent Pecos League. Choate pitched collegiately at Texarkana College from 2010-11 and Stephen F. Austin State University from 2012-13.

Bell, 36, went 5-2 with a team-leading 15 saves and a 4.11 ERA (30 ER in 65.2 IP) in 69 games in his only season with the D-backs in 2013. He was acquired as part of a three-team trade with the Oakland A's and Miami Marlins on Oct. 10, 2012. In 10 Major League seasons with the New York Mets (2004-06), San Diego Padres (2007-11), Marlins (2012) and D-backs (2013), the three-time NL All-Star is 37-31 with 168 saves and a 3.39 ERA (230 ER in 611.1 IP) in 577 relief appearances.

Holmberg, 22, spent the majority of 2013 with Double-A Mobile, going 5-8 with a 2.75 ERA (48 ER in 157.1 IP) in 26 starts. He made one start with the D-backs on Aug. 27 vs. Padres and did not factor in the decision in his Major League debut (3 ER in 3.2 IP). Holmberg, who was acquired by the Chicago White Sox with right-handed pitcher Daniel Hudson on July 30, 2010 for right-handed pitcher Edwin Jackson, has gone 32-32 with a 3.40 ERA (228 ER in 602.2 IP) in 109 games (102 starts) in 5 Minor League seasons (2009-13).