should be, IMHO.....Mike Leake
My parameters - what I would be looking for:
1 - Rental (so the cost should be minimal)
2 - No huge financial cost this year
3 - Clear upgrade at either SP or 1B
Now, there are not a lot of guys that hit all three parameters (just about none at 1B), but I think Leake does give a lot of value to the Buccos as a SP:
1 - The Reds are obviously mailing it in for the rest of the year, and Leake will hit free agency for 2016 (should be cheap).
2 - Leak's current deal is only about $4 Million for the remainder of the season
3 - While Leake's overall numbers are fairly similar to Charlie and Locke, he has the distinct disadvantage of playing on Cincinnati's cigar box stadium.
On an apples to apples comparison - looking at how each pitcher does in games away from their home park - career ERA:
Charlie - 5.38 Locke - 4.38 Leake - 3.50
Leake is a pitch to contact, ground ball pitcher (not quite the ground ball ratio of Charlie - but a bit higher than Locke.....and well above league average overall)
Leake is a significant upgrade - IMHO - over either Charlie of Locke.....and given AJ's inconsistency of late, SP should be right up their with 1B as an area of need down the stretch.
Leake has been a consistent innings eater who stays off the DL.
Anyway, if I'm in NH's shoes.....this is the guy I'd go after.
My parameters - what I would be looking for:
1 - Rental (so the cost should be minimal)
2 - No huge financial cost this year
3 - Clear upgrade at either SP or 1B
Now, there are not a lot of guys that hit all three parameters (just about none at 1B), but I think Leake does give a lot of value to the Buccos as a SP:
1 - The Reds are obviously mailing it in for the rest of the year, and Leake will hit free agency for 2016 (should be cheap).
2 - Leak's current deal is only about $4 Million for the remainder of the season
3 - While Leake's overall numbers are fairly similar to Charlie and Locke, he has the distinct disadvantage of playing on Cincinnati's cigar box stadium.
On an apples to apples comparison - looking at how each pitcher does in games away from their home park - career ERA:
Charlie - 5.38 Locke - 4.38 Leake - 3.50
Leake is a pitch to contact, ground ball pitcher (not quite the ground ball ratio of Charlie - but a bit higher than Locke.....and well above league average overall)
Leake is a significant upgrade - IMHO - over either Charlie of Locke.....and given AJ's inconsistency of late, SP should be right up their with 1B as an area of need down the stretch.
Leake has been a consistent innings eater who stays off the DL.
Anyway, if I'm in NH's shoes.....this is the guy I'd go after.