Seattle Mariners Executive Vice President & General Manager of Baseball Operations Jerry Dipoto announced today that the Mariners have acquired right-handed pitcher Mike Leake, cash considerations and International Slot money for the current signing period in exchange for minor league infielder Rayder Ascanio.
"Mike gives us an experienced starter that will help us as we navigate our way towards a playoff spot this season," said Dipoto. "As one of the most durable starters over most of the last decade, he'll be a valuable addition for not just the near future, but for seasons to come."
Seattle's Major League, 40-man roster, is now full.
Leake, 29, was 7-12 with a 4.21 ERA (72 ER, 154.0 IP) with 103 strikeouts in 26 starts for St. Louis this season. He began the season going 6-6 with a 2.97 ERA (35 ER, 106.0 IP) with 72 strikeouts in his first 16 starts, before going 1-6 with a 6.94 ERA (37 ER, 48.0 IP) with 31 strikeouts over his last 10 starts.
Since his Major League debut season in 2010, his 228 starts are the 2nd-most in the National League behind Los Angeles-NL's Clayton Kershaw (233). Since the start of the 2012 season, his 180 starts are tied for the most in the National League with Washington's Gio Gonzalez. He's one of eight Major League pitchers to make at least 30 starts in every season since 2012 and has a chance to do so again this season.
In eight Major League seasons, he is 80-76 with a 4.18 ERA (631 ER, 1414.1 IP) with 958 strikeouts in 233 games, including 228 starts for Cincinnati (2010-15), San Francisco (2015) and St. Louis (2016-17). He was drafted by Cincinnati in the 1st round (8th overall) of the 2009 MLB First-Year Player Draft out of Arizona State University in Tempe.
Ascanio, 21, split this season between low-A Clinton and high-A Modesto, while also appearing in 3 games with AAA Tacoma. In a combined 111 games this season, he hit .217 (85x392) with 25 doubles, 1 triple, 9 home runs and 44 RBI. He hit .220 (33x150) with Clinton, .223 (52x233) with Modesto and was 0x9 in 3 games with Tacoma. Ascanio was signed by Seattle on Dec. 6, 2012 as an international free agent out of Mariara, Carabobo, Venezuela. He began his professional career in 2013 in the Venezuelan Summer League in 2013.