Cincinnati Reds: 3 free agent reunions we’d like to see

3. Mike Leake, Starting pitcher

Mike Leake was the first player to opt out of the 2020 season because of concerns surrounding the COVID-19 pandemic. Rather than keep Leake under contract for the 2021 season, the Arizona Diamondbacks declined his team option, paying his $5M buyout, and making him a free agent heading into the winter.

Leake was taken the first-round of the 2009 MLB Draft and made his Reds debut the following season, going 8-4 with a 4.28 ERA. Leake finished his Cincinnati career with 62 wins and a 3.87 ERA. After Cincinnati, Leake made stops in San Francisco, St. Louis, Seattle, and finally Arizona. For his career, Leake is 105-98 with a 4.05 ERA.

While Nick Krall and the Cincinnati Reds front office appear ready to move on from Cy Young winner Trevor Bauer, signing Leake to a one-year contract might be good way to bring along top prospects Hunter Greene and Nick Lodolo while remaining competitive with the Gold Glover taking the ball every fifth day.

Mike Leake is a gamer, a la Bronson Arroyo. Every year since 2012, Leake has started at least 30 games and thrown at least 175 innings. With a strikeout-rate of just 16.0% for his career according to FanGraphs, Leake is more of a finesse pitcher whose high ground ball rate (50.4%)contributes to his success.

The Cincinnati Reds need better offense, a solid shortstop, and an additional starting pitcher. Strangely, the team could account for all three positions by going after former players. There’s also former players like Yasiel Puig and Todd Frazier who could fill some areas of concern for the Reds in 2021.