Details Emerge From Tampa Bay’s Trade For Nelson Cruz

The Tampa Bay Rays bolstered their lineup by acquiring veteran slugger Nelson Cruz from the Minnesota Twins on Thursday.

Tampa Bay were clear buyers ahead of baseball’s July 30 trade deadline. The Rays sit just one game behind the Red Sox in the AL East at 57-39. With the second half of the season underway, Tampa Bay decided to make a splash in the trade market.

Cruz is heading to the Rays where he’s expected to provide a boost on offense. The Twins slugger is batting .294 with 50 RBI and 19 homers in 85 games this season.

So what did the Rays have to give up to acquire the seven-time All-Star? They sent minor-league pitchers Joe Ryan and Drew Strotman to the Minnesota Twins in exchange for Cruz and minor league pitcher Calvin Faucher.

This was an expected move by the Minnesota Twins. They’re 17 full games back of the Chicago White Sox in the AL Central and Cruz becomes a free agent after this season. It’s only fitting they move him now, rather than let him walk later this year.

Minor leaguers Joe Ryan and Drew Strotman, meanwhile, are the No. 10 and 17 ranked prospects in the Rays’ excellent farm system, per MLB.com. Ryan is 25 years old while Strotman is 24. Both are right handers.

The Twins now have some younger firepower in their farm system while the Rays add a big-time slugger to their lineup. Seems like a win-win, all things considered.

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