Rays trade Jansen to Brewers, add Fortes from Marlins

The Tampa Bay Rays made two trades Monday, swapping catchers in separate deals involving the Milwaukee Brewers and Miami Marlins.

The Rays traded Danny Jansen and cash to the Brewers for minor-league infielder Jadher Areinamo, the teams announced.

"Erik (Neander, Rays president of baseball operations) has been nothing but transparent. He's been awesome about the whole process. Finding out today, it's definitely an odd thing - still being on the roster, but it's such a great group of guys here," Jansen said following the trade, according to Rays reporter Ryan Bass.

"It's never expected ... but nice to have some extended time with people and chat with them. It's a special group of people here, top to bottom, players and staff. I've really, really enjoyed my time here."

Milwaukee designated catcher Eric Haase for assignment to make room for Jansen on the active roster.

Jansen is hitting .204/.314/.389 with 11 home runs and 29 RBIs in 73 games after signing a one-year, $8.5-million deal with the Rays in December.

This is the second consecutive season in which Jansen has been traded - the Toronto Blue Jays shipped him to the Boston Red Sox last July.

Tampa Bay followed the Jansen trade by acquiring backstop Nick Fortes from the Miami Marlins for minor-league outfielder Matthew Etzel.

Fortes owns a .240/.288/.349 slash line with two homers and 10 RBIs in 59 contests. He ranks in the 92nd percentile in blocks above average and isn't eligible for free agency until 2029.

Areinamo was slashing .297/.355/.463 with 11 home runs, 51 RBIs, and 15 steals for High-A Wisconsin before Monday's trade.

Etzel, 23, was hitting .230/.360/.347 at Double-A Montgomery prior to being dealt.