Rowdy Tellez is a free agent again, and his old Blue Jays trade is still paying dividends in Toronto. The fan favourite elected free agency on Oct. 29.

His 2026 with the Braves was brief. He played just seven games, hitting one homer with four RBIs, then appeared in three playoff games.

Atlanta's season ended Oct. 7 with a 4-1 loss to the Dodgers in the NLDS.

Tellez's story started in Toronto. The Jays drafted him in the 30th round in 2013, and he spent his first three and a half big-league seasons with the club.

He broke out in his second season, hitting 21 homers over 111 games. He quickly became a fan favourite.

But the real legacy might be the trade.

The Rowdy Tellez trade tree still runs through Toronto

On July 6, 2021, the Jays sent Tellez to the Brewers for right-handers Bowden Francis and Trevor Richards.

Francis became a useful starter in Toronto. He's now recovering from Tommy John surgery and faces a non-tender decision this winter.

Richards was later flipped to the Twins at the 2024 deadline for utility man Jay Harry.

Harry just broke out with an .838 OPS between Double-A and Triple-A. Farm director Joe Sclafani called him “a left-handed version of Ernie Clement with more power.”

That's a terrific return for a 30th-round pick. Toronto turned a popular first baseman into a rotation piece and, eventually, one of its most intriguing prospects.

It's like trading a baseball card that turns into two better cards, and one of those turns into a third. Some trades just keep paying.

Tellez had his best year after leaving, with 35 homers for Milwaukee in 2022. He's since bounced through Pittsburgh, Seattle and Texas.

At 31, he's looking for another chance. The Jays won't be the team to give it to him, but they're still benefiting from the deal that sent him away.