SF Giants acquire 2021 Cy Young winner Robbie Ray in trade with Mariners
The SF Giants have made their first massive trade of the offseason, acquiring two-time All-Star lefty Robbie Ray from the Seattle Mariners for right-handed pitcher Anthony DeSclafani, outfielder Mitch Haniger, and cash considerations. The deal was first reported by ESPN's Jeff Passan. The Giants are sending $3 million cash to the Mariners to make the deal cash-neutral in 2024, per Andrew Baggarly of The Athletic. The move serves primarily as a contract dump for the Giants but also helps consolidate the roster and add some much-needed upside to the starting rotation.
Seattle Mariners SP Robbie Ray throws in the first inning against the Cubs during spring training. (2023)
Matt Kartozian-USA TODAY Sports
Ray signed a nine-figure deal with the Mariners in free agency following the 2021 season. Ray had starred with the Toronto Blue Jays and won the 2021 American League Cy Young. Ray was effective in his first season with Seattle, posting a 3.71 ERA (4.16 FIP) with 212 strikeouts and 62 walks in 189 innings pitched (32 starts). However, injuries limited him to just one appearance in 2023. He underwent UCL surgery that will likely keep him out until after the All-Star break. Moreover, he has $73 million in guaranteed money left on his contract over the next three years.
Ray's contract does include an opt-out after the 2024 season. So it is conceivable that he could become a free agent next winter if he hits the ground running in his return. However, in that scenario, the Giants would still have cleared salary and roster flexibility in this deal alongside likely getting a couple of months of ace-level performance from Ray. Barring that, it's hard to envision him opting out of the remaining two years and $50 million in guarantees.
Ray began his career with the Washington Nationals in 2010 but would be traded twice before becoming a mainstay in the Arizona Diamondbacks rotation. Across six seasons with the Dbacks, Ray received one All-Star appearance and recorded a 4.11 ERA (4.05 FIP) with 998 strikeouts and 376 walks with 793 innings pitched. Despite some elite highs, Ray's inconsistent command always made him inconsistent. It all seemed to unravel in 2020, though, and led them to trade him to the Blue Jays before the end of the season.
The Blue Jays were able to help Ray right the ship before the end of 2020, and he rewarded their belief in him with a career year in 2021. Ray led the American League in ERA (2.84), innings pitched (193.1), and strikeouts (248) in route to the Cy Young.
The Giants are willing to take on the risk that Ray is unable to rebound from injury for several reasons. Primarily Haniger and DeSclafani have roughly $50 million in guaranteed money left on their contracts as well. Both were seemingly eight-figure depth pieces at positions where San Francisco has several other options. This swap clears a roster spot and saves them money in the short run since Ray's contract will pay him less than Haniger and DeSclafani combined in 2024.
For Haniger, he will return to the Mariners, where he had the best seasons of his career. Haniger is coming off a rough first season in San Francisco after inking a three-year deal last offseason. In his first season with the Giants, the Bay Area native was hampered by injuries and hit just .209/.266/.365 in 229 plate appearances with six homers and 28 runs batted in. The Mariners will hope he can bounce back in a reunion with them next season. With a backlog of DH/LF options already on the roster, the Giants no longer had a clear spot on the roster for the slugger.
DeSclafani got off to a promising start this season, recording a 2.70 ERA with 27 strikeouts and just three walks across 30 innings pitched in his first five starts of the season. However, perhaps induced by a season-ending elbow injury, DeSclafani's performance fell off a cliff when the calendar turned to May. Ultimately, he finished the season with a 4.88 ERA (4.38 FIP), 79 strikeouts, and 20 walks in 99.2 innings pitched (19 appearances).
Set to turn 34 next April, the Mariners will hope DeSclafani can reestablish himself as a quality mid-rotation starter next season. 2024 will be DeSclafani's final season in his current three-year, $36 million contract. DeSclafani, of course, was a key contributor during the Giants 107-win campaign in 2021. In arguably the best season of his career, he posted a 3.17 ERA in 167.2 innings pitched across 32 starts with two complete game shutouts.
Over the past two years, though, DeSclafani has seen his on-field performance regress as he's dealt with several injuries. From 2022-2023, DeSclafani has appeared in just 24 games and struggled to a 5.16 ERA (4.43 FIP) in 118.2 innings pitched with 96 strikeouts, 24 walks, and 19 home runs allowed. With younger starters abound, DeSclafani was ruled expendable.
