Report: Teams ‘fully expect’ D-backs SP Robbie Ray to be traded
Jul 29, 2019, 6:34 PM | Updated: 6:37 pm
Arizona Diamondbacks starting pitcher Robbie Ray (38) throws against the Baltimore Orioles during the third inning of a baseball game, Monday, July 22, 2019, in Phoenix. (AP Photo/Matt York)
(AP Photo/Matt York)
As Wednesday’s MLB trade deadline gets closer, Arizona Diamondbacks starting pitcher Robbie Ray remains one of the hottest names being reported in trade talks.
Bob Nightengale of the USA Today said Monday night that teams “fully expect” Ray to be traded.
As for specific teams, MLB Network’s Jon Heyman reported Monday afternoon the Milwaukee Brewers and Houston Astros “remain engaged” with the D-backs for Ray’s services, while the Yankees and other teams are also interested.
The Brewers recently acquired a starter on Monday, trading for the Pittsburgh Pirates’ Jordan Lyles.
Nightengale, however, notes this is only “a start” for Milwaukee’s needs in the rotation and they are still missing a higher-level name. That’s where Ray could theoretically fit.
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The St. Louis Cardinals could be a match as well.
The St. Louis Post-Dispatch’s Derrick Gould reports the Cardinals “intend to circle back” with the D-backs to inquire about a couple of pitching names. Gould reports their wish list includes a lefty and they see the market has starting pitching options as well.
As Heyman linked together, that could mean Ray or D-backs reliever Andrew Chafin.
The latest developments on Ray’s market follow over a week of the left-hander being reportedly looked at by other teams like the Minnesota Twins and Philadelphia Phillies, as well as Nightengale reporting that Ray could be utilized by a potential new team in a bullpen role.
Ray, 27, is widely valued as one of the best starting pitchers a hopeful contender could acquire at the deadline. While Ray has yet to regain his All-Star form in 2017, he’s been dependable with ERAs the past two seasons of 3.93 and 3.91, respectively. Going deep into games has troubled Ray his entire career but the lefty has pitched at least six innings into his past five starts and 10 of his last 11.
One of the best strikeout pitchers in all of baseball, Ray will be a free agent in 2021 after one more year of team control in 2020.
