The Blue Jays made their first trade ahead of Wednesday’s deadline, dealing leadoff hitter Eric Sogard to the Tampa Bay Rays on Sunday.

It was a short trip for the 33-year-old utilityman, with the Rays finishing a three-game series at the Rogers Centre on Sunday afternoon. The Jays will receive two players to be named later.

“Probably 15 minutes before the game (manager Charlie Montoyo) grabbed me and said things were escalating between a couple of teams so he was going to pull me out just to be safe,” Sogard said, who left the Jays dugout to little fanfare early in the game. “Just kind of waiting it out from there.”

Multiple teams were interested in acquiring Sogard, according to ESPN’s Jeff Passan, with the Chicago Cubs and San Francisco Giants in the mix.

Sogard had heard talk of a trade and was in communication with the Jays front office about the possibility. He thought he might be dealt Friday, when he was left out of the lineup for the series opener against the Rays, but the call came two days later.

The Rays made room on their 40-man roster by reportedly dealing reliever Hunter Wood and his 2.48 ERA through 19 appearances to the Cleveland Indians along with infielder Christian Arroyo in exchange for minor-league outfielder Ruben Cardenas and international signing money.

Sogard, scratched from the Jays lineup just before opening pitch on Sunday, signed a minor-league deal in December. He didn’t make the team out of spring training, but was promoted in mid-April and had been one of Toronto’s most consistent hitters ever since, batting a career-high .300 with 10 home runs and 30 RBIs. His .304 average and .854 OPS as a leadoff hitter, plus his ability to play infield and corner outfield positions, attracted interest among contenders looking for options once it became clear the Kansas City Royals were unlikely to trade leadoff man Whit Merrifield.

The cost-conscious Rays were not expected to make a big splash at the trade deadline despite dealing with a litany of injuries, including to second baseman Brandon Lowe (shin), third baseman Daniel Robertson (knee), third baseman Yandy Diaz (foot) and centre fielder Kevin Kiermaier (thumb). They are legitimate contenders for a playoff spot for the first time since 2013.

“I’m excited,” Sogard said of joining the Rays. “Excited to be with a team in contention to make the playoffs. Certainly hope I can bring to them what I’ve done here in Toronto and help them make the playoffs.”

Sogard’s time in Toronto may have been short, but it was sweet.

“I’ve absolutely loved it here in Toronto,” he said. “The fans have been great, the staff’s great and these young players have been a true joy to be around. To watch them grow each day, it’s been fun to just kind of help them in their growing.”

Montoyo said the team will miss a “great clubhouse guy” and “one of the best leadoff hitters in baseball.” The manager said Saturday that he would be pulling for any player dealt before the deadline, and Sogard was no exception.

“He was great for us. For the younger guys, for the older guys, he was an example,” Montoyo said. “I have so many good things to say that I could stay here all day talking about him.”

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Late last month, 24-year-old infielder Cavan Biggio singled out Sogard as a teammate he had particularly enjoyed playing with this season.

“Me and him, we got along pretty well in spring training, playing the same position and whatnot,” Biggio said. “Then we started off in Buffalo. Just learned a lot from a guy who has been around the game for so long. It’s just really fun to play with a guy like that.”