Giants land starting pitcher Mike Leake in trade with Reds

The Reds shipped starter Mike Leake to the San Francisco Giants for a pair of prospects on Thursday night, bolstering the defending World Series champions for another playoff run.

San Francisco needed one more solid starter, and got a young pitcher who has been at his best in July. The 27-year-old Leake has won his last four starts, allowing only two earned runs in 30 innings overall.

He threw eight innings of four-hit ball in a 4-0 win in St. Louis on Tuesday, completing his sensational month. Overall, Leake is 9-5 with a 3.56 ERA in 21 starts this season.

The Reds got infielder Adam Duvall and right-hander Keury Mella for Leake, who can become a free agent after the season.

The deal came six days after Cincinnati dealt ace Johnny Cueto to Kansas City for three minor league pitchers. The Giants wound up getting Cincinnati’s second-best starter.

Duvall, 26, grew up in Louisville and was taken in the 11th round of the June 2010 draft. He batted .279 with 25 doubles, 26 homers and 79 RBIs in 99 games for Triple-A Sacramento.

Mella, 21, was signed as a non-drafted free agent in September 2011. He went 5-3 with a 3.31 ERA in 16 starts for Class A San Jose this season. He also was on the World team’s roster for the All-Star Futures Game in Cincinnati earlier in July.

13-PLAYER, 3-TEAM DEAL

The first-place Los Angeles Dodgers bolstered their pitching staff on the eve of the trade deadline, completing a 13-player deal with the Atlanta Braves and Miami Marlins on Thursday that sent two starters and two relievers to the NL West leader.

Clinging to a half-game lead over the Giants, the Dodgers acquired right-hander Mat Latos from the Marlins and left-hander Alex Wood from the Braves, two pitchers who can move right into the rotation behind aces Clayton Kershaw and Zack Greinke. Also, Los Angeles obtained relievers Jim Johnson and Luis Avilan from Atlanta, adding needed depth to the bullpen.

The rebuilding Braves kept up their massive overhaul, also surrendering top infield prospect Jose Peraza to the Dodgers largely to land 30-year-old Cuban defector Hector Olivera, who has impressed in the minors since signing a $62.5 million, six-year deal with Los Angeles this year.

As for the Marlins, it was another familiar salary dump. Out of contention in the NL East, Miami rid itself of Latos and first baseman Michael Morse for three minor leaguers.

The deals worked like this:

The Dodgers got Wood (7-6, 3.54 ERA), Johnson (2-3, 2.25, nine saves), Avilan (2-4, 3.58), Peraza (.294 with 26 stolen bases for Triple-A Gwinnett) and pitcher Bronson Arroyo from the Braves, along with Latos (4-7, 4.48), Morse (.214, four homers, 12 RBIs) and cash considerations from the Marlins. Arroyo is coming back from Tommy John surgery and hasn’t pitched this season; his inclusion in the deal is mainly a financial benefit to the Braves.

Atlanta received Olivera, who is hitting a combined .348 with two homers and seven RBIs in 19 games at three different levels of the Dodgers’ farm system this season, along with injured left-hander Paco Rodriguez and minor leaguer Zachary Bird, a right-handed pitcher. The Braves also received a draft pick from the Marlins.

Miami acquired minor league right-handers Kevin Guzman, Jeff Brigham and Victor Araujo from the Dodgers, none of whom has pitched above Class A.

BLUE JAYS GET LHP PRICE

Toronto acquired All-Star left-hander David Price from the Detroit Tigers on Thursday, the second major move in less than a week by the Blue Jays as they chase their first postseason appearance since 1993.

After obtaining slugging shortstop Troy Tulowitzki from Colorado, the Blue Jays tried to shore up their rotation by adding Price, likely the top remaining starting pitcher on the market.

The Blue Jays sent left-handers Daniel Norris, Matt Boyd and Jairo Labourt to the Tigers in the deal. Price can become a free agent after this season.

PIRATES LAND RHP SORIA

The Pittsburgh Pirates made another move to upgrade their bullpen on Thursday night, acquiring right-hander Joakim Soria from the Detroit Tigers for a minor leaguer.

The 31-year-old Soria was 3-1 with 23 saves and a 2.85 ERA in 43 appearances with Detroit this season. He didn’t allow a run in 13 of his last 14 appearances.

Pittsburgh gave up infielder JaCoby Jones, a 23-year-old who was recently promoted to Double-A. The Pirates will have to make a move to create a roster spot when Soria joins the team.

ASTROS GRAB OF GOMEZ

The Astros have added another bat to their lineup as they make a push for the postseason, acquiring two-time All-Star outfielder Carlos Gomez from the Milwaukee Brewers.

Houston, which also received right-hander Mike Fiers in the deal, sent four prospects to the Brewers: left-hander Josh Hader, right-hander Adrian Houser and outfielders Brett Phillips and Domingo Santana.

MOSS DEALT TO CARDINALS

Brandon Moss was sorry to see close friend David Murphy traded earlier this week by the Indians.

Now he’s gone, too.

Moss was dealt Thursday to the St. Louis Cardinals, who were in the market for an outfielder after seven-time All-Star Matt Holliday re-injured his right quadriceps on Wednesday.

In exchange for Moss, who was in his first season with the Indians, the Indians received minor league pitcher Rob Kaminsky, a first-round pick in 2013.

YANKEES GET ACKLEY

The New York Yankees have acquired utility player Dustin Ackley from the Seattle Mariners for a pair of minor leaguers.

New York sent right-hander Jose Ramirez and outfielder Ramon Flores to the Mariners in the deal completed Thursday, a day before the non-waiver trade deadline.

HAMELS DEAL ON HOLD

Cole Hamels’ locker was still intact in Philadelphia’s clubhouse, as was Matt Harrison’s in Texas’ locker room.

While a deal that would send Hamels and reliever Jake Diekman to the Rangers for Harrison and a package of top prospects still had not been announced Thursday night, players on both sides already talked like they had lost beloved teammates.

Two people familiar with the deal say the Phillies have agreed to trade Hamels, their 2008 World Series MVP.