Diamondbacks trade prospect for Seattle RHP Mike Leake
Jul 31, 2019, 1:22 PM | Updated: 4:36 pm
Mike Leake #8 of the Seattle Mariners throws against the Texas Rangers in the first inning at Globe Life Park in Arlington on July 30, 2019 in Arlington, Texas. (Photo by Ronald Martinez/Getty Images)
(Photo by Ronald Martinez/Getty Images)
The Arizona Diamondbacks seemed to do something closer to buying than selling on Wednesday, the day of MLB’s trade deadline.
After first acquiring the Marlins’ No. 5 prospect, current major league pitcher Zac Gallen, the D-backs acquired Mike Leake from the Seattle Mariners, as first reported by Jon Heyman after the clock struck 1 p.m. According to AZCentral’s Nick Piecoro, Single-A infielder Jose Caballero will go to Seattle in the deal.
Leake has $30 million remaining on a deal that runs through next year, and the Diamondbacks will only pay $6 million of that, 98.7 FM Arizona’s Sports Station’s John Gambadoro has learned.
Leake, an Arizona State graduate who has pitched for the Reds, Giants, Cardinals and Mariners, owns a 4.40 ERA this season for Seattle. The 31-year-old right-hander has tossed two complete games, owns a minuscule 1.2 walks per nine and a 1.255 WHIP.
For his career, the veteran hurler has a 4.05 ERA. He has never been an All-Star nor received Cy Young votes, but in 2013 put up an impressive 3.37 ERA.
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Caballero is not ranked in MLB Pipeline’s D-backs top-30 prospects. The 22-year-old was playing with high-A Visalia and batting .268 with three home runs in 43 games this year.
The reported addition of Leake comes just moments before the Diamondbacks reportedly traded ace Zack Greinke to the Houston Astros for a package of prospects. One veteran replaces another, while the D-backs also added Gallen. No reports indicated that Robbie Ray was traded, so he and Leake will occupy the top of Arizona’s rotation for the time being.
