San Francisco – The San Francisco Giants made a significant move on Friday, acquiring Robbie Ray, the 2021 AL Cy Young Award winner, from the Seattle Mariners. This trade marks another deal between the two teams, who have been frequent trade partners in recent years. In exchange for Ray, the Giants sent outfielder Mitch Haniger and right-hander Anthony DeSclafani to the Mariners. The Giants also included $6 million in the deal to make it cash neutral for both teams in 2024.
Ray, who underwent Tommy John surgery on his left elbow in May 2023, is expected to be out until the second half of 2024. Before his injury, he recorded a 3.71 ERA over 189 innings for the Mariners in 2022. The 32-year-old lefty is owed $73 million over the final three years of his contract, but he has the ability to opt out after the 2024 season.
The Giants, who are already dealing with the absence of Alex Cobb due to left hip surgery, are likely to pursue more starting pitching this offseason. Lefties Blake Snell, Jordan Montgomery, and Shōta Imanaga are among the potential free-agent targets for the team.
Giants president of baseball operations Farhan Zaidi expressed his excitement about the acquisition of Robbie Ray, describing him as a big piece for the team. Zaidi also emphasized Ray’s track record of durability and noted that he complements Logan Webb well in the rotation.
The departure of Haniger will help the Giants in clearing their outfield logjam. The team already has multiple players vying for at-bats in the outfield, including Jung Hoo Lee, Michael Conforto, Mike Yastrzemski, Austin Slater, Luis Matos, Tyler Fitzgerald, Heliot Ramos, and Wade Meckler.
In addition to Ray, the Giants included DeSclafani in the trade. DeSclafani had a career-best 3.17 ERA over 31 starts for the Giants in 2021. However, he struggled with injuries in the past two seasons, recording a combined 5.16 ERA over 24 appearances.
With Cobb and Ray expected to miss the beginning of the season, the Giants will rely on several young starters like Kyle Harrison, Keaton Winn, Tristan Beck, and Kai-Wei Teng to fill in. They also have the veteran option of Ross Stripling, who will be back in the rotation mix after opting into the final year of his two-year, $25 million deal.
The trade with the Mariners not only addresses the Giants’ pitching needs but also provides them with flexibility to create opportunities for their younger players and pursue other moves. This move aligns with the Giants’ long-term vision of having Ray and Webb as a strong tandem at the top of their rotation.
Recapping the trade, the Giants acquired Robbie Ray while sending Mitch Haniger and Anthony DeSclafani to the Mariners. Ray, the 2021 AL Cy Young Award winner, is expected to return to the field in the second half of the 2024 season after undergoing Tommy John surgery. The Giants will now focus on adding more starting pitching during the offseason. Haniger’s departure will help clear the Giants’ outfield logjam, while DeSclafani’s absence will give opportunities to young starters. The trade provides the Giants with flexibility and maneuverability for future moves.