Cincinnati Reds trade RHP Johnny Cueto to Kansas City Royals

The Cincinnati Reds traded ace Johnny Cueto to the Kansas City Royals, the teams confirmed Sunday.

The Reds obtained left-handers Brandon Finnegan, John Lamb and Cody Reed in exchange for Cueto and cash considerations.

The deal was announced during the third inning of Sunday's Houston Astros-Royals game.

"I'm very thankful to my teammates, my fans and my coaching staff," Cueto said Sunday. "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."

Ken Rosenthal of FOX Sports reported the two sides nearly reached an agreement Saturday night before Cueto took the mound against the Colorado Rockies at Coors Field, but one of the players due to move from the Royals to the Reds did not check out medically. The two sides continued working Sunday to finalize the trade.

Cueto is 7-6 with a 2.62 ERA this season, with 120 strikeouts in 19 starts. He made the All-Star team for the second straight year.

On Saturday night, the right-hander pitched eight shutout innings in a 4-0 win against the Rockies, limiting them to four singles before being lifted for a pinch hitter in the ninth.

The 29-year-old Cueto said a teammate told him before the game that he already had been traded.

"They said something to me," Cueto told reporters after Saturday's game. "I don't want to use a bad word in this location, but it was really bad the way I found out what happened. My head went around the whole way. My thoughts were all over the place."

Cueto finished second in Cy Young Award voting last year after going 20-9 with a 2.25 ERA.

Reds manager Bryan Price indicated Saturday that the trade was close to happening.

"Right now, we know that there are a lot of people after our players," Price said. "We've got to be prepared for anything that could happen. There are times we've got to concern ourselves with 'what if?' There's a protocol. We've got players that may be dealt. We've got to make sure all our bases are covered. We can't go out and have a bullpen day."

Finnegan, 22, was the Royals' top pick in last year's draft. He is 3-0 with a 2.96 ERA over 24 1/3 innings in 14 games out of the Kansas City bullpen this season.

"Thanks to the Royals for all the opportunities they've given me and all the amazing fans. I will miss you all. Time for a new chapter," Finnegan wrote on Twitter.

Lamb, 25, is 9-1 with a 2.67 ERA in 17 starts for Triple-A Omaha and Reed, 22, has a 2.53 ERA in 18 appearances (15 starts) between Class A and Double-A this season.