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The Blue Jays have traded reliever Trevor Richards to the Twins
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    The Blue Jays have traded reliever Trevor Richards to the Twins

    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.

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    The Toronto Blue Jays have made a significant move by trading reliever Trevor Richards to the Minnesota Twins. This trade comes as part of the Blue Jays’ efforts to strengthen their bullpen and make improvements to their pitching staff.

    Richards, who was acquired by the Blue Jays in a trade with the Milwaukee Brewers earlier this season, has been a reliable reliever for Toronto. In 16 appearances with the Blue Jays, Richards posted a 3.00 ERA and struck out 20 batters in 15 innings pitched. His ability to pitch effectively in high-leverage situations made him a valuable asset to the Blue Jays’ bullpen.

    In exchange for Richards, the Blue Jays received a player to be named later or cash considerations from the Twins. This trade allows the Blue Jays to free up a roster spot and potentially acquire additional assets to help bolster their roster for the remainder of the season.

    As for the Twins, adding Richards to their bullpen provides them with another arm to help solidify their relief corps. With a 4.50 ERA in 18 innings pitched this season, Richards brings experience and depth to a Twins bullpen that has struggled at times this year.

    Overall, this trade benefits both teams as they look to make a push for the playoffs. The Blue Jays address a need in their bullpen while the Twins add a reliable arm to help strengthen their pitching staff. It will be interesting to see how Richards performs with his new team and how this trade impacts both clubs as they continue their pursuit of postseason success.