Padres add former Cy Young ace Robbie Ray in deadline swap for prospects
San Diego traded two prospects to San Francisco for veteran left-hander Robbie Ray as the Padres chase a wild-card spot.
In a deadline transaction, San Diego acquired former Cy Young Award pitcher Robbie Ray from the San Francisco Giants, giving up right-hander Miguel Mendez and 17-year-old shortstop Joniel Hernandez. Ray, a 34-year-old left-hander with a 3.08 ERA and 107 strikeouts this season, will become an unrestricted free agent after the year, and the Padres also received cash to offset part of his $25 million salary. The Padres, currently 58-54 and just one game back of the NL wild-card, have struggled with a thin rotation due to injuries to starters such as Nick Pivetta, Lucas Giolito, Joe Musgrove and Yu Darvish.
Ray’s recent form, including a 1.65 ERA since June, is expected to shore up the staff as the team prepares a four-game series against the Arizona Diamondbacks. General manager A.J. Preller continues to trade from a depleted farm system in pursuit of a postseason run.
Why it matters
The trade gives the Padres a proven starter to improve a struggling rotation during a tight playoff chase.
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