CLEVELAND -- Indians general manager Mark Shapiro understood that the second trade he made Saturday wouldn't garner anywhere near the buzz that the first did.

But he certainly wasn't ready to underscore its importance.

After trading Casey Blake to the Dodgers for two Minor League prospects, Shapiro acquired right-handed reliever Anthony Reyes from the Cardinals in exchange for Double-A Akron reliever Luis Perdomo.

It's a deal where the out-of-contention Tribe serves somewhat as a buyer, acquiring a player that has the potential to crack the big league roster before the disappointing 2008 season comes to a close.

"We've had the opportunity to acquire a guy that we've had extremely strong reports on in the past," Shapiro said. "He has a lot of upside potential and still has good stuff and is still performing at a dominant level at Triple-A."

Reyes, a Baseball America Top 100 Overall Minor League Prospect entering both the 2005 and 2006 seasons, has spent time at the big league level in each of the past four seasons. Just two years ago, he won Game 1 of the World Series in Detroit for the eventual World Series champions.

But Reyes' overall results at the Major League level have been mixed, as he has been up and down between Triple-A Memphis and St. Louis since his Major League debut in 2005.

"If he doesn't stub his toe, if he doesn't have his struggles, we don't [get the chance to] acquire him," Shapiro said. "It's our hope that we're getting him at the right time, and [we can] assist him and provide him with an environment that gives him potential to get back to the Major League level."

Reyes started this season on the Cardinals' Opening Day roster, compiling a 2-1 record and 4.91 ERA in 10 appearances as a reliever. He split time from St. Louis and Memphis thereafter, as a right elbow strain kept him on the Major League disabled list from June 16-July 5. At Memphis this season, Reyes, 26, served as a starter, going 2-3 with a 3.25 ERA in 11 starts.

Shapiro said the Indians plan to groom Reyes to be a starter at Triple-A Buffalo, where it is hoped he doesn't get too comfortable.

"We're an organization that obviously needs starting pitching depth," Shaprio said. "He's a guy we'd expect to see up here at some point this season."

Perdomo, 24, started the season at Class A Kinston before being promoted to the Aeros. The right-hander made nine appearances at Akron, going 2-0 with a 3.52 ERA over 15 1/3 innings of work.