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When Eric Sogard was scratched 10 minutes prior to the start of the game today, the #HugWatch officially began. In the bottom of the second inning while the Jays were scoring their first runs of the game, it had been announced that Sogard has been traded to the Tampa Bay Rays.
Infielder Eric Sogard has been traded to the Tampa Bay Rays, league sources tell ESPN. Multiple teams were on him but Toronto ultimately settled on a deal with Tampa Bay.
— Jeff Passan (@JeffPassan) July 28, 2019
Sogard was signed to a Minor League deal with the Blue Jays in December of last year, and lost the opening day roster competition to Richard Urena out of Spring Training. He was called up when Lourdes Gurriel Jr was demoted with the yips.
Tapping into his #nerdpower, Sogard has been having a career year with the Blue Jays. He is currently batting .300./363./477 (good for an .840 OPS) with 10 homers and 30 RBIs. He has made starts all over the diamond at second, third, short, in right field and as the designated hitter.
Sogard was asked on Friday how he would feel about being traded, and he had this to say:
Eric Sogard on potential trade to World Series contender:
— Scott Mitchell (@ScottyMitchTSN) July 26, 2019
“That’s kind of why we play this game, to get in the postseason and get a chance to win a World Series and get that ring … if an opportunity comes where I could be part of a contender, that’d be neat."#BlueJays
This post will be updated when the returning player(s) have been announced.
EDIT 1:
#BlueJays are tentatively set to receive two PTBNL from the Rays in the Eric Sogard trade, per source, but details are still being finalized.
— Scott Mitchell (@ScottyMitchTSN) July 28, 2019
EDIT 2:
The deal is now official.
OFFICIAL: We've traded INF Eric Sogard to @RaysBaseball in exchange for 2 players to be named later. pic.twitter.com/GH5xcyVt8P
— Toronto Blue Jays (@BlueJays) July 28, 2019
EDIT 3:
The Jays apparently have some time to pick two of four pitchers from the Rays lower levels:
In the Eric Sogard deal, #BlueJays have some time to pick two pitchers from a group of four in the lower levels of the #Rays minor-league system. https://t.co/fPDiRi1Eqb
— Shi Davidi (@ShiDavidi) July 29, 2019