KANSAS CITY -- Finally, after almost a day of speculation, the Royals completed a trade for Reds right-hander Johnny Cueto.The deal was announced during the third inning of the Royals-Astros game on Sunday: Cueto and cash considerations to the Royals for left-handers Brandon Finnegan, John Lamb and Cody Reed.
Cueto, 7-6 with a 2.62 ERA, could help shore up a rotation which has wobbled much of the season through injuries and ineffectiveness. Last week, the Royals lost left-handed starter Jason Vargas for the season due to an elbow injury. 
"I'm very thankful to my teammates, my fans and my coaching staff," Cueto said. "It's a very emotional time for me. But I understand it's part of the game. I'm just excited about my next step."[The Royals] do have a great team. I'm excited about my next chapter. I know they play baseball very good. I'm excited because I know it's going to be good for my career and good for the team."Finnegan was the Royals' top pick in last year's MLB Draft and has been up and down between the Minors and the big league club all season. With the Royals, he was 3-0 with a 2.96 ERA in 14 games, and he began the season as the club's No. 4 prospect.Lamb was once considered a top prospect in the Royals' organization until undergoing Tommy John surgery in 2011. The road back has been long, but Lamb emerged strong this season -- 9-1 with a 2.67 ERA at Triple-A Omaha.Finnegan and Lamb both were assigned to the Reds' Triple-A affiliate in Louisville.Reed was a second-round pick in the 2013 Draft. He was 2-2 with a 3.45 ERA at Double-A Northwest Arkansas. Reed and Lamb are now ranked No. 7 and 13, respectively, on the Reds' prospect list, according to MLB.com.The Royals' 40-man roster now is at 39. They will make a corresponding move on the 25-man roster when Cueto joins the team in Cleveland on Monday.
Jeffrey Flanagan/MLB.com
"I'm very thankful to my teammates, my fans and my coaching staff," Cueto said. "It's a very emotional time for me. But I understand it's part of the game. I'm just excited about my next step."[The Royals] do have a great team. I'm excited about my next chapter. I know they play baseball very good. I'm excited because I know it's going to be good for my career and good for the team."Finnegan was the Royals' top pick in last year's MLB Draft and has been up and down between the Minors and the big league club all season. With the Royals, he was 3-0 with a 2.96 ERA in 14 games, and he began the season as the club's No. 4 prospect.Lamb was once considered a top prospect in the Royals' organization until undergoing Tommy John surgery in 2011. The road back has been long, but Lamb emerged strong this season -- 9-1 with a 2.67 ERA at Triple-A Omaha.Finnegan and Lamb both were assigned to the Reds' Triple-A affiliate in Louisville.Reed was a second-round pick in the 2013 Draft. He was 2-2 with a 3.45 ERA at Double-A Northwest Arkansas. Reed and Lamb are now ranked No. 7 and 13, respectively, on the Reds' prospect list, according to MLB.com.The Royals' 40-man roster now is at 39. They will make a corresponding move on the 25-man roster when Cueto joins the team in Cleveland on Monday.
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