Cincinnati Reds Acquire RHP From San Francisco Giants To Complete Trade

The Cincinnati Reds made a Rule 5 pick last week that was really only intended in order to trade him. In a pre-draft arrangement with the San Francisco Giants, Blake Sabol was selected by the Reds, then dealt to the Giants a week ago; now the trade has been completed, as right-hander Jake Wong heads to Cinci.

The #Reds today acquired minor league RHP Jake Wong from the Giants. This completes the December 7 trade that sent to Rule 5 pick OF/C Blake Sabol to the Giants for a player to be named and cash. pic.twitter.com/zf2n60laOi

— Cincinnati Reds (@Reds) December 13, 2022

Wong, 26, returned to the mound in High-A ball last season after sitting out 2021 following Tommy John surgery. He went 6-5 with a 4.52 ERA for the Eugene Emeralds last season. He had 108 strikeouts and 44 walks in 97.2 innings.

The Giants had left Wong unprotected in the Rule 5 Draft. But by Cincinnati selecting another player instead (Sabol) and trading him to San Francisco instead of selecting Wong directly from the Giants, the Reds are not compelled to keep him on the 40-man roster for the coming season (a stipulation for Rule 5 draftees). A tricky, yet effective move by the Reds.

Wong will likely start the year in Double-A in the Reds system, and try to work his way up.

Photo: Sam Greene via Imagn Content Services, LLC