Milwaukee Brewers Rumors: Interested In A Mike Leake Trade

The Milwaukee Brewers are searching far and wide for some more pitching help. That search has taken them to Seattle.

Mike Leake is not the pitcher he used to be, but that doesn’t mean he can’t a useful piece down the line in a pennant race. If the Milwaukee Brewers were to acquire Leake, he wouldn’t be considered a frontline starter, but would be another healthy body in the rotation that can eat up some innings.

For the Mariners, moving Leake, 31, makes a ton of sense given his salary and their place in the standings.

Ken Rosenthal dropped this bit of news not long ago.

The Brewers, as well as the Rangers and a few other teams, are interested in Mike Leake. And according to reports from yesterday, Leake was approached about waiving his no trade clause prior to his start, but the deal didn’t come through.

Could that deal have been with the Brewers? It’s possible. His start last night didn’t go that well. He gave up five runs in 5.2 IP against the Rangers.

Why Mike Leake?

Leake had some good years with the Cincinnati Reds earlier in his career. Then he signed a big five year, $80 million free agent contract with the St. Louis Cardinals, struggled there in a year and a half and was traded to Seattle.

For his time in Seattle, Leake has a 4.21 ERA in 58 starts.

Make no mistake, Leake is not the frontline starter the Brewers really need. But, they also need depth and healthy starters at this point and Leake fits the bill. He’s a solid-average veteran pitcher and he shouldn’t cost that much to acquire, which is good considering the state of the Brewers farm system

Mike Leake’s Contract

Leake is due a total of $16 million this year, but the Cardinals are paying down $5 million of that sum and the Mariners have told teams that they’re willing to pay down a good portion of money to move Leake’s contract. And when it comes to how much of the season has already passed, it’s a small payroll increase for the Brewers.

Leake is under control for a year and a half, so he’s not a rental, which provides more value to Milwaukee.

The Cardinals will also be paying down $4 million of next year’s salary, when he’s due $15 million, plus whatever cash the Mariners will throw in to complete a trade. So when it comes to paying Mike Leake, the Brewers should be in a good spot.

Leake also has an $18 million mutual option for 2021

What Could Leake Cost?

It depends on how much money the Mariners throw in, but it should be relatively cheap in terms of prospect price. They should be able to hold on to Brice Turang, Mauricio Dubon, and Tristen Lutz.

Trent Grisham is a player I could see going in a trade for Leake, or someone like Trey Supak. Perhaps a Joe Gray or Payton Henry would entice the Mariners.

Basically, pick two of the Milwaukee Brewers prospects from the 7-20 range on the MLB Pipeline Top 30 list and you’ll have a solid trade package for Leake.

The cost will be lower, but the likely production is going to be lower as well. Leake is likely not the Brewers top option, but pitchers like Noah Syndergaard and Robbie Ray are hot commodities that the Crew may not have the ammunition to get. Leake is a solid, yet not very exciting Plan B option.

The Trade Deadline winds down in a few hours. Things could get crazy for the Milwaukee Brewers.