The San Francisco Giants, who had targeted an ace-caliber starter this offseason, got one Friday, landing 2021 AL Cy Young Award winner Robbie Ray in a trade with the Seattle Mariners.
ESPN’s Jeff Passan, who broke news of the trade, reported that the Mariners will receiver outfielder Mitch Haniger, right-hander Anthony DeSclafani and cash to make the deal revenue neutral.
Ray, 32, is the centerpiece of the trade. The left-hander appeared in only one game last season before suffering a left flexor strain that required season-ending Tommy John surgery. He’s expected back after the All-Star break.
Robbie Ray is coming off Tommy John surgery and is owed $73M over the last three years of his contract, though he has an opt-out after the 2024 season. He's expected to return after the All-Star break. Mitch Haniger, a longtime Mariner who left for San Francisco in free agency…
— Jeff Passan (@JeffPassan) January 5, 2024
Vintage Ray was a workhorse who could be depended on for 175 or so innings a year. He has a 3.96 career ERA.
Landing Ray is a consolation prize of sorts for the Giants, who had targeted several other elite pitchers, including Shohei Ohtani and Yoshinobu Yamamoto, only to see them go elsewhere or remain unsigned.
Haniger, 33, gets reunited with the Mariners, where he spent five seasons. and made an All-Star appearance. But the hitter who belted 39 home runs with an .804 OPS in 2021 struggled mightily after signing with the Giants last season (73 OPS+ in 229 plate appearances).
DeSclafani has had a baffling career, alternating very good seasons (3.17 ERA, 13 wins in 2021) with bad seasons.
MLB fans generally thought the move indicated other deals could be imminent in Seattle and San Francisco.
Think the Mariners are getting ready to take aim at Blake Snell?
— Jeremiah Bonds (@JeremiahBonds) January 5, 2024
Massive pickup for the Giants
— Ben (@HowUBenFeller) January 5, 2024
Robbie Ray being back in the news means it's a great time to remind the world he has one of the highest K/9 of all time pic.twitter.com/cDEAdo6d2Z
— James Schiano (@James_Schiano) January 5, 2024
the Giants can’t sign a marquee name, so they’re trading for injured ones.
— ᴛᴏɴʏ ᴡᴜᴇɴᴄʜ (@twuench) January 5, 2024
Welp, there’s one less team likely to trade for Dylan Cease.
— Eli Ong (@ThePenOfEli) January 5, 2024
