The San Francisco Giants are officially buyers in what has been the most-active trade deadline in recent Major League Baseball history. They announced the acquisition of Cincinnati Reds starter Mike Leake in a three-player deal late Thursday night.
#SFGiants acquire RHP Mike Leake from #Reds in exchange for minor league IF Adam Duvall, RHP Keury Mella
— SFGiants (@SFGiants) July 31, 2015
Leake, 27, was one of the best starting pitchers remaining on the market after a flurry of deals sending ace hurlers to contending teams over the past week-plus. He adds a stable presence to a strong rotation that has been impacted to an extent by over-the-hill pitchers and injuries.
The soon-to-be free agent is 4-1 with a 1.25 ERA and 0.83 WHIP in five starts this month. Overall, he has put up a solid 9-5 record with a 3.56 ERA for Cincinnati this year.
In return, the Reds get a pitcher in Mella who many considered to be the Giants’ top prospect. The 21-year-old has spent the entire 2015 campaign in High Single-A ball, posting a 5-3 record with a 3.31 ERA and 1.13 WHIP. Cincinnati also picked up a lesser prospect in Adam Duvall in the deal.
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