The San Francisco Giants didn't quite add the top starter they were looking for, but they made a solid acquisition late Thursday night to bolster their rotation.
Mike Leake was traded to the Giants last night in exchange for two prospects, according to Jon Heyman of CBS Sports. The deal was confirmed soon thereafter by Alex Pavlovic of CSNBayArea.com and he mentioned one of the minor-leaguers headed to Cincinnati will be the Giants' No. 2 overall prospect Keury Mella. FOX Sports' Jon Morosi noted the other prospect is infielder Adam Duvall, who MLB.com ranks No. 25 in the organization (he has appeared in 28 games with the Giants this season).
The Giants were mentioned in trade discussions with the Phillies and Tigers regarding both Cole Hamels and David Price, but it was said they didn't have enough resources in their farm system to strike a deal with either of those clubs. James Shields was also mentioned as a potential trade candidate for the Giants because the team wanted a top-end starter who can pitch behind Madison Bumgarner in Game 2 of a playoff series, but the Padres are seemingly hesitant about trading Shields within the division.
Leake, who will be a free agent after the season, is 9-5 with a 3.56 ERA, 1.15 WHIP and 90 strikeouts in 21 starts (136 2/3 innings) this season. He had a stellar July, which perhaps increased his trade value, after going 4-1 with a 1.25 ERA in five starts against the Brewers, Marlins, Indians, Cubs and Cardinals. The right-hander will now join a Giants rotation that consists of Bumgarner, Chris Heston, Matt Cain, Jake Peavy and Tim Hudson (who could be in danger of losing his spot).
As for Cincinnati, they'll bolster their farm system with their second deal before the trade deadline. After acquiring three prospects for Johnny Cueto on Sunday, the Reds got Mella and Duvall, both of whom have been excelling in the minors.
Mella is 5-3 with a 3.31 ERA, 1.13 WHIP and 83 strikeouts in 16 starts (81 2/3 innings) at Class A Advanced San Jose. Duvall is batting .281/.325/.547 with 60 runs scored, 26 home runs and 80 RBIs in 100 games with Triple-A Sacramento.
#SFGiants acquire RHP Mike Leake from #Reds in exchange for minor league IF Adam Duvall, RHP Keury Mella
— San Francisco Giants (@SFGiants) July 31, 2015
Reds acquire from the Giants Louisville native IF Adam Duvall and No. 1 prospect RHP Keury Mella for RHP Mike Leake.
— Cincinnati Reds (@Reds) July 31, 2015
