Mike Leake traded to Mariners

Mike Leake was traded by the St Louis Cardinals to the Seattle Mariners on August 30, 2017 along with cash and international signing bonus pool space. The Cardinals in exchange received Rayder Ascanio.

RHP Leake was 7-12, 4.21 ERA, 103 K, 1.32 WHIP, .282 BAA in 154.0 IP over 26 GS with the Cardinals in 2017. Over eight MLB seasons with the Cardinals, Giants and Reds he was 80-76, 4.02 ER, 958 K, 1.28 WHIP, .270 BAA in 1414.1 IP over 233 games with 228 GS. He was originally drafted by the Reds with the eighth pick of the first round in 2009, was traded to the Giants in July 2015 and signed with the Cardinals as a free agent in December 2015. Leake turned 29 on November 12.

Shortstop Ascanio had split 2017 between Class A Clinton, Class A Advanced Modesto and Triple A Tacoma. He hit 33 for 150, .220/.296/.380 with 5 HR, 20 RBI, 23 R, 9 SB in 42 games at Clinton, 52 for 233, .223/.304/.352 with 4 HR, 24 RBI, 25 R, 3 SB in 66 games at Modesto and 0 for 9 in 3 games at Tacoma. He originally signed with the Mariners in 2012 as an amateur free agent out of Venezuela. Ascanio turned 21 on March 17.