The Toronto Blue Jays have acquired RHP Joel Kuhnel from the Houston Astros in exchange for cash considerations. Kuhnel has been optioned to Triple-A Buffalo.

Kuhnel, 29, has appeared in one game for the Astros this season and nine contests for the Triple-A Sugar Land Space Cowboys, combining to go 4-1 with a 5.40 ERA. The native of Goldsboro, NC, was an 11^th-round pick of the Cincinnati Reds during the 2016 First-Year Player Draft and made his MLB debut for the club in 2019. The 6-5, 290 lb. right-handed reliever has split his professional career between the Reds and Astros organizations, posting a 6.30 ERA over 77 MLB appearances and a 3.66 ERA over 216 Minor League contests.