The St. Louis Cardinals have announced today that they have acquired minor league shortstop Rayder Ascanio from the Seattle Mariners for right-handed pitcher Mike Leake and international cap space totaling $750,000 for the current international signing period.
Ascanio, 21, was signed by the Mariners as an international free agent in 2012 at the age of 16 and the slick fielding infielder has compiled a career batting mark of .240 with 15 HRs and 158 RBI in 425 games at the minor league level.
The switch-hitting Ascanio, a native of Mariara, Venezuela, was batting .217 with 9 HRs and 44 RBI in 111 games this season between Tacoma (AAA), Clinton (A), and Modesto (A). He is expected to be assigned to the Palm Beach Cardinals (A).
Bob Nightengale and Ken Rosenthal both first reported that a deal is close. Seems all the local beat writers played catch up afterwards, weird.
Leake cleared waivers. He is owed about $2.5m this season and is under contract through 2020 with $53m in guaranteed money, including a $5m buyout of a 2021 mutual option. He had to approve a trade because of his full no-trade clause. It has been said that he would like to play closer to his family who live in Arizona so that probably helped make that decision.
Leake has shown durability and can eat innings, but his results have went from an amazing April to a god awful August.
What does this mean for the rotation? Right now it means that Weaver stays when Wainwright returns. Could it mean a Lance Lynn extension? Maybe, maybe not.
Remember when we all got upset that Leake was making the start last Saturday? They apparently thought skipping a start could hurt his trade value, makes sense now, but I’m sure that was pretty funny to hear before.
Jose de Jesus Ortiz on Twitter
I didn’t believe it when a #STLCards official told me they could damage Leake’s trade value if they didn’t start him Saturday. He was right.
A corresponding move to add somebody to the 25-man roster is expected to come tomorrow.
I think all fans can breathe a sigh of relief now.
Here’s video of Radyer Ascanio hitting a HR earlier this summer:
