Report: Brewers among teams interested in D-backs LHP Robbie Ray
Jul 16, 2019, 8:51 AM
Robbie Ray #38 of the Arizona Diamondbacks delivers a first inning pitch against the Los Angeles Dodgers at Chase Field on June 25, 2019 in Phoenix, Arizona. (Photo by Norm Hall/Getty Images)
(Photo by Norm Hall/Getty Images)
The Arizona Diamondbacks seemed to have a group of potential trade suitors for one of their top starting pitchers as of Tuesday morning, but that pitcher wasn’t ace Zack Greinke.
Left-hander Robbie Ray has been one of the most oft-discussed names in trade rumors this week as the D-backs continue to mull whether to buy or sell at the July 31 trade deadline, and MLB Network’s Jon Morosi reported Tuesday that the Brewers have shown interest.
It stands to reason that Ray would be drawing interest in general, since he’s the best starting pitcher on the D-backs not owed $64 million over the next two years. He currently owns a 3.81 ERA and the second-most strikeouts in the NL behind only Max Scherzer of the Nationals.
Milwaukee sat half a game out of the second Wild Card spot as of Tuesday morning but was fifth from the bottom of the NL in team ERA. Jhoulys Chacin, Brandon Woodruff, Zach Davies, Chase Anderson and Adrian Houser rounded out the Brewers’ rotation on their team depth chart as of Tuesday, while pitchers Gio Gonzalez and Jimmy Nelson are on the IL.
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The D-backs, meanwhile, are a game out of the Wild Card. It wasn’t clear at the start of the week what their intention was at the deadline, and injuries and struggling pitchers have only served to thin-out the depth of their starting pitching; dealing Ray would further exacerbate that matter.
The Yankees, Phillies and Astros are other teams reportedly linked to Ray. If he is dealt, his new team would have the arbitration-eligible hurler under club control through next year.
