Blue Jays acquire RHP Trevor Richards for Rowdy Tellez
The Toronto Blue Jays are continuing to get their trade deadline work done early this year.
After adding Adam Cimber and Jacob Barnes to help shore up their bullpen woes, Toronto has reportedly struck another deal with the Milwaukee Brewers to acquire Trevor Richards in exchange for Rowdy Tellez, according to The Athletic's Ken Rosenthal.
Brewers acquiring 1B Rowdy Tellez from Blue Jays, sources tell @TheAthletic. Return believed to include RHP Trevor Richards. Unclear if other pieces are in deal. Tellez has been in Triple A since June 22. Richards came from Rays in Adames trade.
— Ken Rosenthal (@Ken_Rosenthal) July 6, 2021
Richards, 28, has made 21 appearances this season out of the bullpen. He started the season with the Tampa Bay Rays before Milwaukee acquired him in May along with shortstop Willy Adames in exchange for relievers J.P. Feyereisen and Drew Rasmussen. He's pitched to a 3.69 ERA this season and is under team control through 2024.
After an impressive 2020 campaign, Tellez' 2021 season has left a lot to be desired. He was hitting just .209 with a .272 on-base percentage this year before Toronto optioned him to Triple-A Buffalo in June. His future with the organization became even more precarious when the Blue Jays acquired Corey Dickerson, a left-handed hitting designated hitter, in late June.
Toronto will also require Bowden Francis in the deal, according to Sportsnet's Shi Davidi.
Blue Jays also getting RHP Bowden Francis, per source https://t.co/1lyVw3oxPv
— Shi Davidi (@ShiDavidi) July 6, 2021
Francis is a 25-year-old minor league right-hander with a 3.62 ERA in 11 starts this year split between Triple-A and Double-A.
Both teams have officially announced the trade.
Further Reading:
Blue Jays send Semien, Guerrero, Hernández to All-Star Game
Prospect Austin Martin named to MLB Futures Game
Reese McGuire forcing Blue Jays to Re-think Catching Outlook
