MILWAUKEE (AP) – The devastated Brewers decided to step up their home defense by acquiring shortstop Willy Adames from the Tampa Bay Rays on Friday.

Milwaukee also got Rays pitcher Trevor Richards for relievers JP Feyereisen and Drew Rasmussen.

Adames reached .197 with five homers and 15 RBIs in 41 games this year, but had an .813 OPS last season while helping Tampa Bay reach the World Series. Richards, 28, has a 4.50 ERA and one save in six relief appearances.

“We’re buying a shortstop that has proven itself to be one of the best defensive shortstops in baseball,” said Brewers president of baseball operations David Stearns.

The exchange surprised Adames, who had already arrived at TD Ballpark for the Rays’ game with the Toronto Blue Jays in Dunedin, Fla., When he learned of the move. Adames said he had “cried all afternoon”.

“To get this news out of nowhere was difficult,” Adames said. “It’s business. You have to see every aspect of the situation and every point of view and just take the positive, and just bring joy with everything we’ve done here. Just keep having these memories and take them with me. ”

Later on Friday evening, Adames said he was excited about the new opportunity and noted that he already knew a handful of Brewers, including outfielder Avisaíl García, wide receiver Omar Narváez, utility Daniel Roberstson and player of infield Luis Urías.

“As soon as I knew I was going over there to Milwaukee, I immediately thought of Avi, Narváez and all those guys,” Adames said. “I have a great relationship with Avi. This obviously made things easier.

The Rays plan to call Taylor Walls and give him a lot of playing time at shortstop, although Joey Wendle will play there on occasion. Tampa Bay also has top prospects Wander Franco and Vidal Bruján at Triple-A Durham.

“You’re talking about as good a defensive shortstop as you’re going to find,” said Rays general manager Erik Neander. “You’re talking about a switch-hitter who can put the ball in the game, do a lot of things to help you win close games.”

Adames said he believes he could possibly be traded because the Rays had Walls and Franco in the organization. He just didn’t think a deal would come so soon.

“That’s what I was telling the guys,” Adames said. “I said, ‘It was so surprising because it’s too early.’ I did not even think this year, maybe next year. You kind of knew that’s how they work, that’s how the organization works. But to have this news so soon, it was difficult. ”

Neander said Feyereisen will play an immediate role in the Tampa Bay relieving pen while Rasmussen will be sent to Durham.

Feyereisen, 28, is 0-2 with a 3.26 ERA in 21 this season, despite allowing six runs in 1 1/3 innings in his last two appearances. Rasmussen, 25, is 0-1 with a 4.24 ERA and one save in 15 games.

“We think their arms have endgame potential,” Neander said.

The acquisition of Adames gives the Brewers shortstop assist, which was a growing concern. The Brewers started a weekend streak in Cincinnati on Friday after losing 12 of their last 16 games to drop under 0.500.

Milwaukee gave his starting shortstop job to Urías, 23, this year and showed his confidence last month when he traded Orlando Arcia to the Atlanta Braves. Arcia had been the Brewers’ starting shortstop from 2017-20.

Urías reaches .205 and has nine errors in 38 games. He played back-to-back two-error games Sunday against Atlanta and Tuesday at Kansas City.

Brewers officials said they were interested in Adames long before the recent fighting in Urías.

“We’ve been talking with Willy’s Tampa for months, really,” Stearns said. “And it picked up over the last week and we were able to strike a deal this morning.”

Urías will now fulfill more of a utility role. Most of his starts are on third base, although he can also help on second and shortstops.

“Young players have to continually prove themselves,” Brewers manager Craig Counsell said. “We will ask Luis to prove himself again, like every player. Luis is up to the challenge. I believe him. And I believe he will be a productive member of the team.”

Adames gives the Brewers a more polished shortstop that should team up with Gold Glove second baseman Kolten Wong to give Milwaukee a quality defense in the middle.

Adames has a salary of $ 590,000 in the major leagues, is eligible for officiating next winter, and may become a free agent after the 2024 season.,

Richards has a salary of $ 580,900 in the major leagues and is also eligible for officiating after this season. Feyereisen is a rookie and Rasmussen started the season with less than a year of major league service.

AP freelance writer Mark Didtler contributed to this report.

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