The Toronto Blue Jays are sending bullpen arm Trevor Richards to the Minnesota Twins, Sportsnet’s Shi Davidi and Ben Nicholson-Smith confirmed Tuesday.
Minor-league infielder Jay Harry is expected to be the return.
Harry, 22, has spent the 2024 season at high-A, slashing .214/.306/.349 with eight home runs and 39 RBIs over 82 games.
He was picked in the sixth round by Minnesota in the 2023 draft out of Penn State. In the draft, Harry profiled as one of the more difficult players to strike out in the draft, and that continued into his first career professional season.
However, in 2024, his strikeout rate has increased to 19.1 per cent from 6.9 per cent at low-A through 27 games in 2023.
Harry has spent time at second base, third base, shortstop and in the outfield in 2024, with most of his innings coming at second.
Richards, 31, became a well-established asset in Toronto’s pitching rotation after being acquired in a trade with the Milwaukee Brewers back in 2021.
Richards’ versatility and ability to perform in high-leverage situations helped make him a crucial component of Toronto’s bullpen, particularly during an injury-woven campaign in 2024.
His 52.1 innings this season ranked first among the Blue Jays’ non-starters.
In 45 appearances this season, Richards has a 4.64 ERA and 49 strikeouts.
The six-foot-two righty has really struggled over the past month, allowing runs in six of 10 of his outings, resulting in a 13.06 ERA.
Richards will become a free agent after the 2024 season. He was awarded $2.15 million in arbitration this past off-season.