The San Diego Padres are making another aggressive push toward the postseason. According to ESPN’s Jeff Passan, San Diego is finalizing a deal to acquire left-handed starter Robbie Ray from the San Francisco Giants, though the return package has not yet been disclosed.
This move adds a seasoned, high-performing arm to the Padres’ rotation, as Ray has been among the National League’s top pitchers this season. It also marks a rare in-division trade between two NL West rivals competing from different spots in the standings.
Ray has gone 10-6 this season, posting a 3.08 ERA, 1.29 WHIP, and 107 strikeouts over 122 2/3 innings. The 34-year-old has made 21 starts along with one appearance out of the bullpen for San Francisco.
Entering Monday, San Diego sat at 58-54—just one game behind the Arizona Diamondbacks and 11 games back of the Los Angeles Dodgers in the division race. Meanwhile, the Giants, at 47-65, had already shifted into sell mode ahead of the trade deadline.
Ray immediately adds experience, durability and swing-and-miss potential to the Padres’ rotation.
The left-hander is a two-time All-Star and captured the 2021 American League Cy Young Award with the Toronto Blue Jays, leading the league with a 2.84 ERA and 248 strikeouts across 32 starts that season.
While he hasn’t quite replicated that peak performance, his 2026 campaign shows he can still be a valuable contributor for a contender.
Ray has been particularly sharp of late, posting a 1.65 ERA over his final 10 starts with San Francisco. He also allowed just one run over six innings in each of his last two outings, including a July 30 start against the Padres.
In that outing, Ray held his soon-to-be team to just four hits and one walk while striking out six in San Francisco’s 4-1 win. He capped the performance by fanning Manny Machado with a 95 mph fastball.
Just four days later, the Padres made their move—bringing Ray over to their side of the rivalry.
San Diego has already gotten solid performances from Nick Pivetta and Michael King this season, but the addition of Ray gives them another experienced arm capable of taking the mound in a postseason game. His arrival also adds important depth as the Padres push through the final two months of the season.
Giants continue deadline sell-off
Dealing Ray marks another major step for a Giants team shifting its focus toward the future.
San Francisco had already moved Tyler Mahle to the Atlanta Braves, followed by sending Luis Arraez and Caleb Kilian to the Philadelphia Phillies. Trading Ray to the Padres further underscores a full-scale sell-off after the Giants fell well behind the Dodgers in the NL West standings.
Ray is in the final year of the five-year, $115 million contract he originally signed with the Seattle Mariners and is earning $25 million this season. Roughly $8 million remained on the deal at the time of the trade, and the Giants were reportedly open to covering a portion of that salary to enhance their return in prospects.
The full financial terms of the deal, along with the players heading back to San Francisco, were not immediately disclosed.
Ray initially joined the Giants in a January 2024 trade with the Mariners while rehabbing from Tommy John surgery. He returned later that year, then went on to make 32 starts and earn an All-Star nod in 2025.
Now, the Giants are looking to flip that investment into future assets while giving Ray a chance to compete in another postseason push.
This deal is even more compelling given the teams involved. Ray had just shut down the Padres in what turned out to be his final outing with San Francisco, and now his next start could come as he helps San Diego pursue the Dodgers and Diamondbacks in the standings.
For a Padres team that’s never shy about making bold moves at the deadline, acquiring Ray is yet another clear signal they’re all-in on winning right now.
