After losing out on starter David Price and outfielder Jason Heyward and losing pitcher John Lackey to the Chicago Cubs, the St. Louis Cardinals finally won a bidding war by agreeing to a deal with free-agent pitcher Mike Leake on Tuesday. The deal is pending a physical.
According to ESPN, the deal is for five years and $80 million. There is a mutual option that could make the deal worth a total of $94 million. Leake will also have a full no-trade clause. The Los Angeles Dodgers were also interested in Leake.
Leake was drafted by the Cincinnati Reds in 2009. He was acquired by the San Francisco Giants in July. This year he was 11-10, 9-5 with the Reds and 2-5 with the Giants, with a3.70 ERA, according to the Associated Press. He is 64-52 with a 3.88 ERA and a 1.27 WHIP in six seasons in the majors.
Leake will help fill the void in the Cardinals rotation as they no longer have Lackey and lost Lane Lynn for the 2016 season due to Tommy John surgery. The Cardinals rotation now includes Leake, Adam Wainwright, Carlos Martinez, Jaime Garcia and Michael Wacha.