Blue Jays trade Eric Sogard to Tampa Bay Rays

The Blue Jays have traded utilityman Eric Sogard to the Tampa Bay Rays, multiple insiders reported during Sunday afternoon’s game.

The Blue Jays have traded utilityman Eric Sogard to the Tampa Bay Rays in exchange for two players to be named later, however, details are still being finalized according to Scott Mitchell of TSN.

Marc Topkin of the Tampa Bay Times was the first to tweet that the return from the Rays was “not expected to be a major-league player.”

Previously, Sogard had been connected to the Chicago Cubs and Atlanta Braves in trade rumours, with the Rays first being named as surprise entrants Sunday afternoon by Jon Heyman of MLB Network.

MLB Network’s Jon Morosi was the first to report that a trade was imminent, reporting that Sogard being scratched from Sunday’s lineup was not due to an injury.

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Morosi was also the first to report that Sogard was not headed to Atlanta in a trade. MLB.com’s Mark Feinsand reported soon after that Sogard was not being traded to the Cubs. Heyman wrote that the Cubs “tried” for Sogard before the deal with the Rays was made.

Sogard, 33, has been one of the most surprising hitters in the American League this season, slashing a fantastic .300/.363/.477 in 73 games, smashing 10 home runs and stealing six bases in 287 at-bats.

A minor-league signing in the winter, Sogard served as a pillar on a Jays offence that was starved of consistency and prowess all season.

A veteran presence in the dugout, Sogard was lauded by his teammates for his vast wealth of knowledge and a sound understanding of fundamentals.

Previously, the Phoenix, Arizona native played 149 games for the Milwaukee Brewers and 435 games for the Oakland Athletics. He was drafted by the San Diego Padres in the second round of the 2007 MLB Draft.