The Tampa Bay Rays have been looking for a right-handed bat in advance of Wednesday’s trade deadline, and they have found one with some pop.
According to multiple reports, the Rays have acquired first baseman Jesus Aguilar in a trade with the Brewers. The Rays are sending right-hander pitcher Jacob Faria to Milwaukee in the deal.
First baseman Jesus Aguilar has been traded from the Milwaukee Brewers to the Tampa Bay Rays, sources tell ESPN.
— Jeff Passan (@JeffPassan) July 31, 2019
Right-hander Jacob Faria is headed back to the Milwaukee Brewers in the Jesus Aguilar deal, a source tells ESPN.
— Jeff Passan (@JeffPassan) July 31, 2019
Aguilar is hitting just .225 with eight home runs and 34 RBI in what has been a down year for him, but the 29-year-old was an All-Star last season. He posted career highs across the board in 2018 with 35 homers, 108 RBI and an OPS of .891. Aguilar is hitting .298 in the month of July, so he could be finally starting to come out of his prolonged slump.
The deal falls under the low risk/high reward category for the Rays, who are 7.5 games back of the New York Yankees in the AL East and just a half-game back in the wild card.
