The NL Central-leading Milwaukee Brewers acquired starting pitcher Frankie Montas from the Cincinnati Reds for outfielder Joey Wiemer and right-handed pitcher Jakob Junis.
Montas was an important free agent signing for the Reds last winter, agreeing to a one-year, $16 million deal. But Cincinnati has pivoted from being a contending team in March to one looking to move a pending free agent before the deadline.
The Reds have languished below .500 for most of the season, making Montas expendable. He also hasn't had the best of seasons, going 4-8 with a 5.01 ERA in 19 starts.
Montas was dealt to the Brewers in a rare trade between division rivals.
"This is probably the toughest time that I've had leaving a clubhouse," Montas said even before the team had announced the deal. "The relationships I created here, and the way that they welcomed me in, not just me but my family and kids, it's definitely tough."
But Montas, 31, traded for the fifth time since his big league debut in 2015, also described going to a first-place team as "kind of like the cool part."
The Brewers, who have seen a league-high 16 different pitchers start a game for them, have been on the lookout for pitching.
The team recently acquired starter Aaron Civale from Tampa Bay and had interest in White Sox starter Erick Fedde, according to league sources, before he was traded to the St. Louis Cardinals earlier Monday.
Wiemer has appeared in 19 games this season for Milwaukee, while Junis is 4-0 with a 2.42 ERA in 10 games.
The Reds have not yet announced a starter to take the spot of Montas, who was scheduled to face the Cubs on Tuesday.
Information from The Associated Press was included in this report.