Royals Acquire Johnny Cueto From the Reds 

 

 
The Kansas City Royals have acquired Johnny Cueto from the Cincinnati Reds on Sunday. The move isn’t a surprise to anyone, as the Royals were in the market for a starting pitcher. This move indicates that the Royals are going for it all this season.

Cueto has had his up’s and down’s this season on a team that hasn’t been consistent, and sit near the bottom of the NL Central. Coming off a stellar performance against the Rockies on Saturday, Cueto threw eight shutout innings only allowing four hits in his start. His record improved to 7-6 with an ERA of 2.62 and 120 strikeouts in 130.2 innings of work for the Reds. 

The Royals should be excited about this move as one would expect, they have a bonified “Ace” at the top of the rotation. With a deadly bullpen, this has the makings of success. The Royals tweeted this to welcome Johnny to Kansas city… 

 

 
In return, the Cincinnati Reds will get cash considerations and three left-handed pitching prospects; Brandon Finnegan, John Lamb and Cody Reed. Finnegan was a first round pick last year for the Royals and appeared in seven playoff games, this year he has split time between Triple-A and the Big League club. The 25 year old Lamb, who was a fifth round pick back in 2008, is 9-1 with a ERA of 2.67 in 17 starts for Omaha the Royals Triple-A affiliate. Both Lamb and Finnegan were assigned to Triple-A and Reed was sent to Double-A.

Remember the days when the Royals were sellers and made moves to rack up prospects? Those days are long gone, they are legitimate World Series contenders and one of the favorites to come out of the American League for a second straight year.