3 things to know about the Johnny Cueto trade
The Johnny Cueto trade to Kansas City was eventful, and exciting all at once.
Though the Royals have become the team to beat in the American League, and the Cincinnati Reds traded away their ace, general manager Walt Jocketty has laid down a foundation on the mound for years to come.
Here are three things you need to know about the trade:
The Return
Some might argue the Reds won this deal, mainly because of the power arms who are coming over for Cueto. The Reds acquired lefties Brandon Finnegan, Cody Reed, and John Lamb, a former top pitching prospect in the Royals organization prior to undergoing Tommy John surgery. From MLB Trade Rumors:
Rated as the No. 18 prospect in the country by Baseball America prior to 2011, the 25-year-old Lamb has ascended the ranks of KC’s farm system but has yet to make his big league debut. So far this season, however, he’s looking sharp in Triple-A Omaha, pitching to a 2.67 ERA with 9.2 K/9 and 2.8 BB/9 in 17 starts. In years past, (Baseball America) has praised Lamb for his control and changeup.
Finnegan, who made his MLB debut last summer months after pitching in the College World Series, has been filthy in 21 major-league appearances, while Reed and Lamb are lights-out kind of arms who can touch mid-90s.
| 2015 Stats | IP | SO | ERA | WHIP |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Brandon Finnegan (MLB) | 24 1/3 | 21 | 2.96 | 1.19 |
| John Lamb | 94 1/3 | 96 | 2.67 | 1.16 |
| Cody Reed | 96 | 84 | 2.53 | 1.19 |
The Rebuild
The Reds not only stole some stellar arms from the Royals, but they took some of their youth, too. Cincinnati is the 12th oldest team in the majors, with an average age of 28.8 years old.
By adding the trio of lefties, the Reds are making it clear that to replace an ace, they needed to make the future their focal point - which is exactly what they did.
The Reds could also look to spend in the offseason after failed extension talks between the club and Cueto, who's set to become a free agent this winter.
The Drama
At one point, the Reds looked to have botched this trade. Over the course of the weekend, some drama unfolded that appeared to complicate the deal.
Cueto was told by teammate Michael Lorenzen that he had been traded moments prior to his start against the Colorado Rockies. Then, just as the deal appeared imminent, one of the players involved in the deal suffered a setback while taking a medical.
A day later, news began to trickle down that Cueto had been traded to the Royals, though when he walked into the clubhouse Sunday, he said he hadn't yet been told. Hours later, both sides made it official.
(Videos courtesy: MLB.com)