Jansen dealt to Crew, Fortes acquired from Marlins as Rays shuffle backstops

NEW YORK -- The Rays made a pair of trades to reshape their catching situation, walking the line between buying and selling as they hope to remain afloat in the American League postseason race.

On Monday night, the Rays traded offensive-minded veteran Danny Jansen to the Brewers. At the same time, they were working to acquire defensive-oriented catcher Nick Fortes from the Marlins, a trade that became official on Tuesday morning.

Those deals also tweaked the back end of the Rays’ top prospects list, according to MLB Pipeline, as they agreed to move Double-A outfielder Matthew Etzel in exchange for Fortes and added High-A infielder Jadher Areinamo in the Jansen trade.

TRADE DETAILS
Rays get: Minor League INF Jadher Areinamo (now their No. 25 prospect)
Brewers get: C Danny Jansen, cash considerations

Rays get: C Nick Fortes
Marlins get: Minor League OF Matthew Etzel (previously the Rays’ No. 28 prospect)

The news broke before the Rays’ 4-2 win on Monday night at Yankee Stadium, but the Jansen deal didn’t become official until after the game. The reason for that was simple: Tampa Bay didn’t have a second catcher in New York, so Jansen had to be active on an emergency basis for the series opener in case something happened to catcher Matt Thaiss.

"Finding out today, it's definitely an odd thing -- still being on the roster [for the game] and all that," Jansen said. "But it's such a great group of guys here. Definitely you never expect it or anything like that. So it took me a little bit.

“Talking with everybody, it was nice to have some extended time with people and chat with them. But it's a special group of people here, top to bottom -- players, staff. I've really, really enjoyed my time here."

The 30-year-old Jansen, a native of Appleton, Wis., can provide extra catching depth for the Brewers, with starting backstop William Contreras playing with a fractured finger that dates back to last season.

"I don't live too far [from Milwaukee]. So that's going to be something that my wife and I have never experienced as a family," Jansen said. "But I grew up about an hour and 45 minutes from Milwaukee, and my wife as well, so we're familiar with the area. So I'm definitely excited to meet the new organization, and I've heard nothing but great things about them as well. I'm super grateful for my time here, and I'm excited for the next chapter as well."

Jansen has now been traded at two Deadlines in a row. He was dealt from the Blue Jays to the Red Sox on July 27 last season.

"You know what? It happens, and it happens," Jansen said, referring to the nature of the Trade Deadline. "It's definitely part of the game."

The Rays signed Jansen to a one-year, $8.5 million contract in December that includes a $12 million mutual option for next season. The club has raved about his impact defensively and in the clubhouse, and he has posted a .703 OPS with 11 homers and 29 RBIs in 73 games.

But as they have fallen out of the AL East race, the Rays have begun to balance their present and future ahead of Thursday’s Trade Deadline. Once in position to compete for the division title, Tampa Bay no longer holds one of the three AL Wild Card spots. For all their belief in the current roster, the reality of their situation may force the Rays to deal some veterans approaching free agency.

That led them to deal Jansen and target Fortes, the odd man out of a catching situation in Miami that includes rookies Agustín Ramírez and Liam Hicks. Fortes will take Jansen’s place with the Rays, splitting time behind the plate with Thaiss.

Jansen was told just before Monday's game that he'd been traded by Rays manager Kevin Cash and president of baseball operations Erik Neander. He credited Neander for being transparent throughout the process, and he said he knew a trade was possible.

"But still, with something like that, you don't really expect it 'til it happens," Jansen said. "So I was getting ready to play the game. And I understand that side of baseball. I'm just grateful for the time spent here with the guys."

Up to the moment he was called into Cash's office, Jansen was preparing to catch for Tampa Bay. The Rays' position in the standings, and the looming possibility of a trade, weren't on his mind.

"At the moment I'm thinking, 'Get ready for a ballgame,' and about trying to win each game," Jansen said. "Obviously we know the stakes of the games. So that's really what it was."

Fortes, 28, is earning $1.86 million this season and has three more years of arbitration eligibility remaining. It seemed unlikely the Rays would move Jansen without a backup plan in place, and Fortes comes with the benefit of additional years of club control.

Fortes has produced a .225/.277/.344 slash line in 1,073 Major League plate appearances since 2021, but he grades out well defensively, which is typically what the Rays prioritize in their catchers.

According to Statcast, Fortes is one of the game’s best blockers behind the plate and well above-average in terms of pitch-framing and pop time this season.

Signed out of Venezuela for $150,000 in January 2021, Areinamo was a solid producer in the Brewers’ system, and his second season with High-A Wisconsin was shaping up to be arguably his best yet. The 21-year-old was slashing .297/.355/.463 with 11 homers, 51 RBIs and 15 steals at the time of the deal. Most of his work this season has come at shortstop, but he has also played second and third base.

Meanwhile, the Rays traded Etzel less than a year after getting him from the Orioles as part of their return for starter Zach Eflin. The 23-year-old outfielder’s offensive output dipped as his strikeout rate climbed after joining Tampa Bay’s system, but he still produced a .360 on-base percentage with 17 steals in 56 games for Double-A Montgomery this season.