Trade Completed: Blue Jays & Brewers Address Needs

 

The Toronto Blue Jays have acquired another arm for their bullpen, trading Rowdy Tellez to the Milwaukee Brewers for righthander Trevor Richards. 

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

The Blue Jays started the process of rebuilding their beleaguered bullpen by trading for Adam Cimber from the Miami Marlins last week, and now have added another strong arm. Richards was recently acquired by the Brewers from the Tampa Bay Rays, in the Willy Adames trade.

Richards has put up a 3.69 ERA this season, with 41 strikeouts in 31 innings, and will undoubtedly immediately slot into some high-leverage situations for Toronto manager Charlie Montoyo.

Rowdy Tellez had failed to live up to his promise in Toronto, where the Jays desperately needed a left-handed hitter, but Tellez wasn't able to deliver. He has been in Triple-A for the past two weeks, after hitting just .209 with 4 HR for Toronto. 

Tellez did bat .283 with 8 HR in the shortened 2020 season, and the Brewers are hoping he's the bat to fill their first base void, currently occupied by the perennially underachieving, .161-hitting Keston Hiura. 

The Blue Jays also pick up a minor league arm, Bowden Francis in the deal. 

Photo Credit: Michael McLoone-USA TODAY Sports