Phelps sent out to help a contender

Deal with Cubs brings in Hatch, who’s projected as a middle reliever

The Blue Jays flipped veteran reliever David Phelps and cash to the Chicago Cubs in exchange for pitching prospect Thomas Hatch on Tuesday afternoon.

Hatch, a 24-year-old righthander, has posted a 4.10 ERA in 73 minor-league starts since he was selected by the Cubs in the third round of the 2016 draft. The product of Oklahoma State University, where he was named the Big 12 pitcher of the year in 2016 and a third-team all-American on Baseball America’s list, is repeating Double-A for the second year this season, where he has 93 strikeouts to 37 walks in 100 innings.

He has not pitched out of the bullpen since turning pro, but issues with control and pitch sequencing have him projected as a middle reliever, according to MLB Pipeline, who ranked him 29th among the Cubs’ top 30 prospects. He was not ranked on Baseball America’s most recent top 30 prospect list.

Phelps, 32, signed a one-year contract with a club option for the 2020 season with the Jays in January. The seven-year veteran spent the first two-and-ahalf seasons recovering from Tommy John surgery. He made his Jays debut on June 17 and posted a 3.63 ERA in 17 1⁄ in3 nings for Toronto before the trade, becoming one of the goto arms in the late innings for manager Charlie Montoyo, who lauded Phelps for his pinpoint command to make up for a fastball that averaged 92.3 miles per hour this season.

“He’s a good pitcher,” Montoyo said of Phelps. “Good for him. He’s going to a contender.”

Phelps opened up a spot on the Jays’ 40-man roster for Sean Reid-Foley, who was recalled from the Triple-A Buffalo Bisons to start Tuesday night against the Kansas City Royals.

It was one of two moves the Jays made before the game; they also sent outfielder Dalton Pompey to the Bisons after he was designated for assignment last week and cleared waivers. Pompey, a Mississauga native, has been sidelined since suffering a concussion in spring training and had no options remaining after he was reinstated from the 60-day injured list, forcing the Jays to make a decision on the 26-year-old.

Phelps becomes the third player Toronto has dealt ahead of Wednesday’s MLB trade deadline, after super utility infielder Eric Sogard was sent to the Tampa Bay Rays and Marcus Stroman was dealt to the New York Mets.