The San Francisco Giants have finalized a trade that sends veteran left-handed pitcher Robbie Ray to the San Diego Padres, the team announced Tuesday.
In return for the 34-year-old Ray, the Giants acquired two prospects: right-handed pitcher Miguel Mendez, rated as the Padres' fourth-best prospect, and shortstop Joniel Hernandez, ranked ninth. This marks Ray's fifth trade in his 13-year MLB career.
Ray was acquired by the Giants in a trade with the Seattle Mariners before the 2024 season, with San Francisco sending Mitch Haniger and Anthony DeSclafani to Seattle. Ray, who was rehabbing from Tommy John and flexor tendon surgeries at the time of the trade, returned mid-season. For the Giants, he posted a 24-16 record with a 3.54 ERA in 60 starts and earned an All-Star selection last season.
Implications for the Giants
The Giants, now led by president Buster Posey, are not positioning themselves for a deep postseason run this October. The trade of Ray is expected to provide opportunities for younger pitchers to gain experience in the rotation over the final two months of the season. With Trevor McDonald scheduled for elbow surgery, the Giants' rotation picture for the upcoming season remains unclear. Logan Webb and Landen Roupp are considered the only likely locks for rotation spots next year. Other potential candidates include Carson Whisenhunt, Carson Seymour, Blake Tidwell, Joe Whitman, and Matt Wilkinson at the Triple-A level, as well as Adrian Houser, who is under contract through 2027.
What Ray Brings to San Diego
Ray joins a Padres team aiming for a postseason berth. He provides an experienced left-handed arm who can be trusted in a playoff rotation. Ray has been San Francisco's most consistent starter this season, and his performance has been particularly strong of late. Since June 16, no pitcher in Major League Baseball has recorded a lower ERA than Ray's 1.09 mark.
Ray's career has seen him traded multiple times since being drafted. He was traded as a prospect to the Tigers in 2013, then to the Diamondbacks, and later to the Blue Jays. As a free agent in 2021, he signed a five-year, $115 million contract with the Mariners but was hampered by injuries early in his tenure. He has made significantly more starts for the Giants than he did with the Mariners.