The Rays are open for business.
In what could be a signal that Tampa Bay is ready to move its tradable assets, the team sent righty starter Aaron Civale to the NL Central-leading Brewers, as first reported by The Post’s Jon Heyman.
Starter Zach Eflin and outfielder Randy Arozarena are among the other Rays who could now be in play if the team looks to build toward the future, according to Heyman.
The Rays are receiving a Single-A infielder Gregory Barrios in exchange for one-and-a-half years of control for Civale, per The Post’s Joel Sherman.
Tampa Bay enters Wednesday just three games behind the Royals for the third wild card spot, but still behind the Red Sox and tied with the Astros among those not in the top six.
The Rays are known for being a smart front office, and this move indicates the franchise is cognizant it does not have a thoroughbred this year.
Tampa Bay sits 11 games behind the Orioles in the AL East.
Civale, 29, had a disappointing year for the Rays, going 2-6 with a 5.07 ERA spanning 17 starts. Tampa Bay acquired him last year from the Guardians.
The Rays have a strong track record of trading players and replacing their production, and Civale has been a five-and-dive pitcher this year.
Moving Eflin or Arozarena would be tougher to stomach for Rays, and require a larger haul, but Tampa Bay is known for being aggressive and gets out in front of trades rather than waiting too long.
Civale will now provide help to a Brewers team that leads the NL Central by six games and needs rotational depth due to injuries.
Milwaukee recently lost young starter Robert Gasser and have seven pitchers on the injured list who have started at least one game for the franchise this year.
The Brewers have only three starters — Freddy Peralta, Colin Rea and Tobias Myers — who have started at least 10 games for them this season.
This deal also marks the first significant trade of the month in advance of the July 30 trade deadline.
