The Tampa Bay Rays have traded for Milwaukee Brewers first baseman Jesus Aguilar, ESPN reports.
A few days before the trade deadline, the Rays acquired Eric Sogard, and made the move for Aguilar a few hours before the 4 p.m. deadline.
The Rays had been looking for a bat and are hoping Aguilar is the answer.
He was an all-star last season, hitting .274 with 35 homers and driving in 108 runs.
However this season through 94 games, he is hitting .225 with 8 homers and 34 RBI.
Aguilar has a breakout All-Star season last year with 35 HRs but is in a bad slump this season.
— John Sabol (@John_Sabol) July 31, 2019
2018: 35 HR, 107 RBI, .278 - 149 games
2019: 8 HR, 34 RBI, .225 - 94 games#Rays are hoping a change of scenery will reignite Aguliar’s power. Worth the risk by only giving up Faria.
While the numbers are down this season, ESPN's Jeff Passan notes that Aguilar is slashing 298/.346/.574 in 52 July plate appearances.
In return the Rays are shipping RHP Jacob Faria to the Brewers.
Faria has appeared in just 7 games for the Rays this season after a great 2017 and a regression in 2018.
It remains to be seen if the team will make any other moves ahead of the 4 p.m. deadline.
