The Minnesota Twins made their first move of the trade deadline, adding righty reliever Trevor Richards to their bullpen. According to The Athletic’s Ken Rosenthal, the Twins have made a trade for the Toronto Blue Jays reliever. Minnesota has not confirmed the move.
Twins acquiring right-handed reliever Trevor Richards from Blue Jays, sources tell me and @DanHayesMLB
— Ken Rosenthal (@Ken_Rosenthal) July 30, 2024
Twins Acquire Reliever Trevor Richards in Trade with Blue Jays
Originally a starter, Richards has been used mostly as a reliever since being acquired by the Blue Jays in 2021. The 31-year-old has appeared in 45 games this season, pitching to a 4.54 ERA with a 1.146 WHIP. Richards had a 2.44 ERA on July 3rd but has given up 15 runs in his last eight outings. Relying on a two-pitch arsenal, Richards has 49 strikeouts and a .189 batting average against in 52 ⅓ innings. In parts of four seasons in Toronto, he has a 4.75 ERA in 221 ⅔ innings with 273 strikeouts.
Acquired by the Jays along with Bowden Francis in a 2021 deadline deal sending Rowdy Tellez to the Milwaukee Brewers, Richards has mostly been used as a middle reliever. He has also served as a long relief option, drawing the occasional start in a bullpen game while in Toronto.
Trevor Richards is an impending free agent with roughly $710,000 remaining of his $2.1 million salary for the 2024 season. Jeff Passan of ESPN had previously reported that the Twins did not have much money to work with for deadline upgrades. With concerns over broadcasting revenue, Minnesota had both a quiet offseason and a quiet deadline push before trading for Richards.
In exchange for Trevor Richards, 22-year-old infield prospect Jay Harris is heading to Toronto. Minnesota’s sixth-round draft pick in 2023, he batted .339/.434/.468 in 30 minor league games last season. In 82 games with High-A Cedar Rapids this year, Harris is slashing .214/.306/.349 with eight homers and 39 RBI. Primarily an infielder, the 22-year-old has also made 12 appearances in the outfield. His versatility could help him climb the minor league ladder as a super-utility man. Richards is just the latest Blue Jays player to be traded at the deadline and the third reliever, along with Yimi García and Nate Pearson.
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