HOUSTON (AP) - The Houston Astros acquired catcher Christian Vázquez in a deal with the Boston Red Sox on Monday.

The 31-year-old Vázquez is hitting .282 with eight homers and 42 RBI this season. In an eight-year career with the Red Sox, he has batted .262 with 54 homers and 266 RBI.

Vázquez was in the Red Sox lineup Monday at Houston before being scratched just minutes before the game. Now, he'll move to the other clubhouse at Minute Maid Park where he'll try to help the Astros make another deep playoff push.

"This is one that I know hurts in the clubhouse," Red Sox general manager Chaim Bloom said. "That's something we don't take lightly."

He added that they could make more moves before Tuesday's deadline.

"I don't know yet what is to come, but as with anything, we have to be open to what is right for the organization," he said.

The Astros sent minor league infielder Enmanuel Valdez and outfielder Wilyer Abreu to the Red Sox in the trade.

The AL West-leading Astros needed depth at catcher with Jason Castro, the backup to Martín Maldonado, out with a knee injury and rookie Korey Lee filling in. Maldonado has been credited for aiding the success of Houston's mostly young pitching staff, but he's hitting just .173 this season, making Vázquez a significant upgrade offensively.

"He's never the guy that you want coming to the plate when there's runners on," Astros general manager James Click said. "He always seems to find a way to put the bat on the ball and get those guys in."

Click said he and manager Dusty Baker would discuss how playing time would be split between Maldonado and Vázquez, but added that Maldonado's workload was just too heavy this season to be sustainable.

Later Monday, the Red Sox acquired left fielder Tommy Pham in a trade with Cincinnati in exchange for a player to be named or cash. They also traded left-handed reliever Jake Diekman to the Chicago White Sox for catcher Reese McGuire and a player to be named or cash.

Pham was hitting .238 with 11 homers and 39 RBI in 91 games this season for the Reds. The 34-year-old ranks third among left fielders with seven outfield assists.