Blue Jays acquire Clayton Richard from San Diego Padres

The Blue Jays have acquired left-handed pitcher Clayton Richard from the San Diego Padres in exchange for minor-league outfielder Connor Panas, the team announced Sunday evening.

According to an official team release, the Blue Jays have acquired left-handed pitcher Clayton Richard and cash considerations from the San Diego Padres in exchange for minor-league outfielder Connor Panas.

Right-handed pitcher Oliver Drake has been designated for assignment by the Blue Jays in order to free up a spot on the team’s 40-man roster, which is now full, the team also announced in the same release. The Padres also announced the move in a release of their own.

Sportsnet’s Ben Nicholson-Smith originally reported that Richard was headed to Toronto, while Shi Davidi, also of Sportsnet, first reported that Panas was the piece going to San Diego.

As Mike Wilner of Sportsnet FAN 590 noted on Twitter, the cash considerations going to the Blue Jays will offset at least a portion of Richard’s $3 million salary in 2019. Richard, who turned 35 in September, was designated for assignment by the Padres as a corresponding move to the team’s signing of infielder Ian Kinsler on December 20.

Richard, who had been with San Diego since 2016, pitched to an ERA of 5.33 in 158.2 innings, striking out 108 and walking 60 this season. Boasting a FIP of 4.68, the native of Lafayette, Indiana started 27 games in 2018.

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Prior to being traded to San Diego, Richard spent time with the Chicago White Sox, appearing in 39 games in parts of two seasons, tossing 136.2 frames to an ERA of 5.14. He also logged time with the Chicago Cubs, adding 56.1 innings between 2015 and 2016.

Panas, 25, was drafted by the Blue Jays in 2015 out of Canisius College in Buffalo. A native of Toronto, Panas spent the 2018 season with the Double-A New Hampshire Fisher Cats, slashing .232/.296/.359 in 370 at-bats, adding nine home runs, 39 RBI and 16 doubles in 105 games.

Panas was never ranked on MLB Pipeline’s list of the Blue Jays’ top 30 organizational prospects in his career, which began for the Low-A Vancouver Canadians.

Oliver Drake, who has now been designated for assignment eight times in his major league career, has also spent time with the Milwaukee Brewers, the Baltimore Orioles, the Minnesota Twins and the Los Angeles Angels. He appeared in two games for the Blue Jays in 2018.