The St. Louis Cardinals and Seattle Mariners have completed a waiver trade. SP Mike Leake (and his contract) is heading to the Seattle Mariners. Leake waived a no-trade clause to allow the deal to happen.
#Mariners getting Mike Leake, sources tell The Athletic. First to report #STLCards were moving him: @BNightengale. About $55M left on deal.
— Ken Rosenthal (@Ken_Rosenthal) August 30, 2017
The #STLCards will receive IF Rayder Ascanio from the #Mariners in deal while sending Leake, cash, and international slot money to Seattle
— Bob Nightengale (@BNightengale) August 30, 2017
The Cardinals are also sending Seattle about $17 million to help offset Leake's contract. Ascanio is a 21-year-old shortstop. He's spent most of his time in the minors in Single-A Ball, hitting .240 over his career.
Leake joined the Cardinals in 2016 and has shown the health and durability that the Cardinals expected to get. But in St. Louis, he's posted only a 4.46 ERA. That's above his career average of 4.02 and the 3.87 he had with the Cincinnati Reds in his first six years. HE's struggled mightily this month, with an 8.88 ERA.
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The trade is a sign the Mariners think they can make a true postseason push. They are three games back of the Twins in the Wild Card race. Leake, of course, will remain a piece for the Mariners in the next few years.
The Cardinals are still on the fringes of the playoff hunt, but Luke Weaver can handle Leake's spot in the rotation. St. Louis is 5.5 games back of Colorado for the last wild card spot.
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