UPDATE: The Twins announced the trade details.
#MNTwins complete trade with Tampa Bay Rays.
Club acquires right-handed minor league pitchers Joe Ryan and Drew Strotman, in exchange for designated hitter Nelson Cruz and right-handed minor league pitcher Calvin Faucher.
— Minnesota Twins (@Twins) July 22, 2021
ORIGINAL POST:
For the past few weeks, Major League Baseball trade rumors have all had the same few names mentioned.
The Chicago Cubs have reportedly been shopping multiple players like Kris Bryant and Anthony Rizzo. Meanwhile, several Pittsburgh Pirates including Adam Frazier and Richard Rodriguez have also been mentioned.
While none of those players have been moved yet, there was one notable name amongst the list of rumored trade candidates that finally found a new home. Former Minnesota Twins star Nelson Cruz is on the move.
According to a report from Jeff Passan of ESPN the Tampa Bay Rays traded for Cruz this afternoon.
Here’s the news from Passan.
BREAKING: The Tampa Bay Rays are finalizing a deal to acquire slugger Nelson Cruz from the Minnesota Twins, sources tell ESPN.
— Jeff Passan (@JeffPassan) July 22, 2021
The Twins have struggled for relevance this season and currently sit 14 games under .500. Sitting well outside of the playoff race, Minnesota decided it was time to move on from the star slugger.
Cruz is a seven-time All-Star who is in the midst of a strong season for the Twins. He’s batting .294 with 19 home runs and 50 runs batted in in just 85 games. He’ll give the Rays a bolstered designated hitter as the team fights for a division title.
Tampa Bay sits just one game behind the Boston Red Sox in the American League East.
The post Tampa Bay Rays Land 7-Time All-Star In Blockbuster Trade appeared first on The Spun.