The Giants addressed a major need last night, acquiring starting pitcher Mike Leake from the Reds for two minor leaguers.
Leake, a free agent at the end of the season, has been on a roll lately and greatly increased his trade value in the process. He’s posted a 1.24 ERA over 36 innings this month, compiling a 4-1 record in the process. He was probably the top prize left in the starting pitching market after the Hamels and Price dominoes fell, and after being left in the cold in their pursuit of those two the Giants acted quickly to nab him.
Leake gives the Giants another reliable arm to slot behind Madison Bumgarner, someone who won’t overpower opposing lineups but can keep them off balance. He should benefit from a new ballpark, too: Leake’s ERA on the road this year is over two runs less than it is at home and he’s given up nearly half as many home runs. And now he moves to one of the better pitchers’ parks in all of baseball.
The Giants also upgraded their rotation in a big way, as Leake is a big step up from the fading Tim Hudson, who he’ll be replacing in the rotation. He gives the Giants another reliable arm behind Bumgarner and should fit in nicely with Chris Heston, Jake Peavy, and Matt Cain. The back end of the rotation, Peavy and Hudson specifically, have had trouble going deep into games and that’s led to a taxed bullpen; Leake should help in that department, too.
The price for Leake was steep, as the Giants gave up their consensus number one pitching prospect in Keury Mella as well as Adam Duvall, a corner infielder without a real place in San Francisco. Mella has handled Class A well for a guy his age and likely will progress quickly through the minors. Duvall doesn’t seem to have a position in Cincinnati, either, but has a powerful bat and could produce if given an extended chance. Losing Mella was the big blow, though: of all the arms in the Giants system, he seemed destined to crack the majors.
But the Giants are built to win now, are within striking distance of the Dodgers in the division, and have a legitimate shot at getting back to the playoffs and defending their championship. Their rotation needed a shot in the arm, and Leake should provide it for them. An already strong team, which arguably the best and most versatile offense in the National League, just got reinforcements.
The Giants, contenders in an odd year? Stranger things have happened.
