The San Diego Padres bolstered their starting rotation on Monday by acquiring veteran left-hander ESPN from the San Francisco Giants in a deadline-day deal first reported by NBC Sports Bay Area & California.
San Diego Padres Finalize Deadline Trade for Giants Starter Robbie Ray
In exchange, the Giants received two prospects: 24-year-old right-handed pitcher Miguel Mendez, who was ranked as San Diego’s No. 4 prospect, and 17-year-old shortstop Joniel Hernandez, the Padres’ No. 9 prospect, according to MLB.com. The deal also includes financial adjustments, with the Giants covering a portion of the remaining money owed to Ray, as reported by Fieldlevelmedia.
Ray, 34, is in the final year of a five-year, $115 million contract originally signed with the Seattle Mariners, according to SI. He is set to make $25 million in 2026 and will become a free agent at the end of the season.
Recent Performance and Up-Close Audition
The trade materialized shortly after the Padres got an up-close look at the left-hander during a series at Petco Park. In his final start in a Giants uniform on Thursday, Ray pitched six dominant innings, allowing four hits and one earned run while striking out six batters. That performance came against his new club.
Ray has experienced a major resurgence over the summer months. Since the start of June, he has delivered a 1.65 ERA, establishing himself as one of the most effective pitchers in Major League Baseball. For the season, Ray carries a 3.08 ERA with a 10-6 record and 107 strikeouts across 22 games and 21 starts.
A 13-year big-league veteran, Ray previously won the American League Cy Young Award in 2021 while pitching for the Toronto Blue Jays and earned two career All-Star nods. He has steadily rebuilt his career and value since returning from Tommy John surgery in 2024.
Impact on the Padres Rotation and Wild Card Push
The Padres made the move to stabilize a starting rotation that has faced mounting pressure this season due to injuries sidelining pitchers such as Joe Musgrove, Nick Pivetta, and Lucas Giolito. San Diego has recently relied heavily on a rotation featuring Michael King and Walker Buehler alongside multiple bullpen games.
Despite rotation challenges, the Padres have surged back into postseason contention, winning eight of their last ten games and pulling within one game of the final Wild Card spot in the National League, trailing the Los Angeles Dodgers in the division. Ray is expected to slot directly into the Padres’ rotation, potentially making his debut during the team’s crucial series in Arizona.
Prospects Head to San Francisco’s Farm System
For San Francisco, parting with one of their top starting pitchers marks a clear selling strategy at the deadline as the franchise looks toward its future farm system.
- Miguel Mendez: The 24-year-old right-hander has spent time across the High-A and Double-A levels, posting a 4.93 ERA with 38 strikeouts in 34 2/3 innings for Double-A San Antonio this year.
- Joniel Hernandez: The 17-year-old Cuban-born shortstop made his professional debut in the Dominican Summer League, compiling a .303/.424/.503 slash line with four home runs and 43 RBIs in 41 games.
While the Giants secured two intriguing young talents for their system, the Padres held onto top prospect Ethan Salas along with left-handers Kash Mayfield and Kruz Schoolcraft, keeping their core upper-tier trade chips intact while securing an experienced rotation anchor for the stretch run.
