MLB trade deadline: Padres working to acquire pitcher Robbie Ray from Giants

Pitcher Robbie Ray might be moving 500 miles south down the California coast. The San Diego Padres are working on a trade to get the left-hander from the San Francisco Giants, ESPN's Jeff Passan reports.

Ray, 34, has made 21 starts (in 22 appearances) for the Giants this season, compiling a 3.08 ERA, 10-6 record and 107 strikeouts in 122 2/3 innings. He's on pace to pitch more than 180 innings for the fourth time in the past six seasons.

The 13-year veteran was in his third season with the Giants after being traded by the Seattle Mariners in 2024. He’s in the final year of five-year, $115 million contract he signed in free agency.

In return for Ray, the Giants will receive right-hander Miguel Mendez and shortstop Joniel Hernandez, according to The Athletic’s Dennis Lin and Ken Rosenthal. Mendez was ranked as the Padres’ No. 4 prospect by MLB.com and pitching in Double-A. Hernandez, the organization’s No. 9 minor-leaguer, is playing for San Diego’s Dominican Summer League team.

Moving Ray to the Padres is the third deal that the Giants have made before the trade deadline.

Earlier on Monday, second baseman Luis Arraez was traded to the Philadelphia Phiilies in exchange for pitchers Ramon Marquez (the Phillies’ No. 4 prospect) and Marty Gair. On Sunday, the Giants dealt another starting pitcher, Tyler Mahle, to the Atlanta Braves for reliever Anthony Molina.

The Padres were targeting starting pitching before the MLB trade deadline, also reportedly checking in on the New York Mets' Kodai Senga. However, Ray is far more accomplished, having won the AL Cy Young Award with the Toronto Blue Jays in 2021 among 13 MLB seasons.

Ray finished that Cy Young-winning campaign with a 2.84 ERA, totaling career-highs with 193 1/3 innings and 248 strikeouts.

The Philadelphia Phillies were also pursuing Ray, according to reports.