Over the weekend, we learned that Giants executives Brian Sabean and Lee Elder were on hand at Wrigley to watch the Reds take on the Cubs, ostensibly to take a closer look at Reds starter Johnny Cueto. It turns out that they stayed in Chicago on Saturday night too in order to scout fellow Reds starter Mike Leake, according to Ken Rosenthal of FOX Sports (Twitter links).
The Giants saw Leake give up five hits and three earned runs with one strikeout over the course of five innings. It wasn’t Leake’s best start of the season, but the right-hander has been pretty decent on the whole, pitching to a 4.35 ERA with 5.2 K/9 and 2.5 BB/9 in 13 starts this season. The 27-year-old had even stronger numbers prior to this year. From 2010 to 2014, Leake posted a 3.92 ERA with 6.2 K/9 and 2.3 BB/9.
The Reds are staring at a sizable 12.5 game gap between them and the first place Cardinals, leading many to speculate that they will be sellers in July. Cueto and even Aroldis Chapman have been mentioned in trade rumors, but Leake could also make sense for a contending team such as the Giants.
One AL scout recently told Nick Cafardo of the Boston Globe that Leake should be able to “pitch in either league with no problem.” That same scout speculated that there could be more bites on Leake than any other hurler at the deadline, but that remains to be seen. Leake is earning $9.775MM this year and will be eligible for free agency after the season, making him a possibility for a short-term rental or more. The Reds did not try to sign Leake to an extension this offseason and that reportedly did not sit well with the pitcher.
Congratulations Alex on 2,000 RBI….Now 2nd in MLB History…….
No one cares…….
everybody cares…it’s history….
Its Negative History, Like the Civilized world cares about Hitler !
it stopped becoming history in 2009
Why is Bond’s still #1 on the homerun list everybody?…it’s because it’s history….you can’t change it…but only remember how great it was….
He has failed to get in the HoF, that is also history. That will be Alex’s fate and eventual history as well.
The Hof,means nothing…Bonds and A-Rod where better than 90%…of players inducted….lol…..
You are embarrassing yourself
Barry disagrees with you…it means something “I don’t have any doubts that I’ll get there in time. I’m bothered about it, but I don’t sit here going, ‘I’m not going to make it.’ “I deserve to be there,” Bonds said
Barry disagrees with you…it means something “I don’t have any doubts that I’ll get there in time. I’m bothered about it, but I don’t sit here going, ‘I’m not going to make it.’ “I deserve to be there,” Bonds said
False…I’m someone and I don’t care
I mean it’s cool and all, but your placement of congratulations is strange.
Extra Income upto 62$ daily@ mlbtraderumors
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*Indeed
What would it take from the Giants honestly to get a guy like Leake?
Abalberto Mejia and Steven Okert? I (who knows nothing) would assume its going to take a close to high level Pitcher and a top 10 team prospect.
The 4th and 5th best Giants prospects for half a year of Leake? I think that’s a bit of an overpay for someone like Leake. Leake is an ok pitcher but nothing that great.
I’m guessing a Clayton Blackburn type
The Reds can leverage the fact that they could make a qualifying offer but I think the Giants would call the bluff by not offering a first round type of player. That said, I think they would go as far as making a similar offer to what they got Peavy for last year, but not any more.
meh
I’d think that there is 1 scout that has just about every opinion there is.
wonder what the Giants would want for Tim Lincecum
A Bag of Balls !
He’s a free agent at the end of the year and making a ton of money… I think the Giants will hold onto him since he seems to be pitching decently..
I’d be thrilled if someone took Lincecum off of the Giants’ hands…his last 4 starts are probably correct indicators on how the rest of his season is going to play out…
Leake’s numbers aren’t great so far. I’m really wondering what the Reds could get for him. Maybe something like Christian Arroyo + Ryder Jones?
Christian Arroyo is the 4th best prospect in the Giants farm system and is considered the best offensive piece the Giants have in the minors. Giving him up for Leake would be an overpay.
Just chill out and win the championship in 2016 as expected
If we can get him for cheap, and if he can put up numbers somewhere between his 2013-2014 stats, I would be happy to have him in the rotation. Only problem is that we would have 8 capable starters and not enough roster spots to hold them all. It would take some creativity with the DL, like keeping both Peavy and Cain on, move them to 60-day, and move Vogey to the bullpen. Might not be worth it considering a healthy Cain can easily put up numbers better than Leake has so far this season.
Vogey would be cut out of the rotation, Heston might likely get sent back to Triple A, and Hudson may or may not be moved. Leake’s ERA this year is contributed to the over 6 ERA in Cincinnati. His ERA everywhere else is an even 3.00. Pitching home games at AT&T would help him tremendously.
Why? That’s my first reaction. They have two pitchers who will come off the DL, Cain and Peavy. Add that to MadBum, Timmy, Heston, Vogey, Huddy and they already have too many starters. The bullpen is filled. So, there would be nowhere for at least 2-3 of their pitchers if they acquire Leake.
Hope the Giants were actually there to scout Chapman. Their bullpen could use a bit of strengthening with Affeldt having a down year.