Blue Jays: How former players moved this summer are doing elsewhere

Trades Continued

July 06th – Rowdy Tellez (1B) to the Milwaukee Brewers in exchange for Bowden Francis (RHP) and Trevor Richards (RHP)

In another move to add depth to the bullpen, the Blue Jays traded first baseman Rowdy Tellez to the Milwaukee Brewers in exchange for reliever Trevor Richards and prospect Bowden Francis, who now ranks as the organization’s 30th ranked prospect. Richards has become one of the more dependable arms in the Jays’ bullpen, throwing to a 3.38 ERA through 21.1 innings while Francis has been touched up a bit, owning a 4.53 ERA through nine starts with 24 earned runs through 47.2 innings.

Heading to the Brewers was hard-hitting Tellez, who gained a lot of respect and attention from the Blue Jays fanbase. Since heading to the Brew Crew, the lefty slugger owns a .279/.350/.500 slash line with seven home runs, 24 RBI, and a .850 OPS through 44 games. He is putting together a pretty strong campaign since joining the Brewers, as he wasn’t going to get regular playing time at first base with Vladimir Guerrero Jr. entrenched at the position and a plethora of options at the designated hitter position.

July 29th – Riley Adams (C) to the Washington Nationals in exchange for Brad Hand (LHP)

Attempting to add another veteran arm to the bullpen, Ross Atkins went out and acquired southpaw Brad Hand in exchange for catcher Riley Adams. Adams was the club’s 19th ranked prospect at the time of the trade and made his major league debut earlier this season when Alejandro Kirk and Danny Jansen were both on the IL. With the Jays, the righty-batter hit .107/.167/.179 with zero home runs and zero RBI and just struggled at the plate before being sent back down to AAA.

Adams would begin his Nationals tenure in AAA but would be recalled to the major league club once they traded Yan Gomes to the Athletics at the trade deadline. Since joining the active roster, Adams has been outstanding, appearing in 19 games and slashing .341/.442/.568 with two home runs, seven RBI, and a 1.010 OPS. While the sample size is obviously small, Adams is playing well and appears to be making most of the opportunity.

Considering the Blue Jays designated Brad Hand for assignment after putting up pretty rough numbers, it is safe to say that the Nationals have won this deal.

July 30th – Austin Martin (INF/OF) and Simeon Woods-Richardson (RHP) to the Minnesota Twins in exchange for Jose Berrios (RHP)

The biggest trade for the Blue Jays at this year’s trade deadline, Ross Atkins acquired starter Jose Berrios in exchange for two top prospects in Austin Martin and Simeon Woods-Richardson. Those who valued prospects within the franchise were pretty torn by the trade but considering Berrios still has another year of control after this season, the price for established starting pitchers of the right-hander’s caliber being pretty high.

Both prospects were sent to the AA affiliate within the Twins organization, with SWR still yet to make an appearance for the club since being acquired. He was with the United States national team at the Tokyo Olympics last month but it is surprising that the right-hander has yet to make an appearance for his new club yet.

Martin on the other hand has a .256/.407/.422 and a .829 OPS since joining the Wichita Wind Surge, collecting three home runs and 17 RBI through 90 at-bats. He has already eclipsed his home run and RBI totals with the Wind Surge compared to his time with the New Hampshire Fisher Cats and has an OPS that is roughly 20 points higher.

August 2nd – John Axford (RHP) to the Milwaukee Brewers in exchange for cash considerations

Signed by the Blue Jays to a minor league contract after an impressive run with Team Canada at an Olympic Qualifiers event, Simcoe, Ontario’s John Axford spent just over a week in the organization before being traded to the Brewers.

In his first appearance with his new club, the right-hander would go 0.1 innings while giving up two earned runs, a hit batter, and a walk before being pulled. Axford would then go on the disabled list with an elbow injury and is currently on the 60-day IL.