The San Diego Padres began their trade deadline by trading two prospects for left-handed starting pitcher Robbie Ray from the San Francisco Giants.
President of baseball operations A.J. Preller used No. 4 prospect Miguel Mendez and No. 9 prospect shortstop Joniel Hernandez to acquire the 34-year-old veteran, who has been one of the top pitchers in baseball over the past two months.
In 10 starts and 60 innings pitched since June 1, Ray has a 1.65
ERA. He has a 3.08 ERA for the season in 122.2 innings with 107 strikeouts to 57 walks.
Ray features a low-90s four-seam fastball and sinker along with a knuckle curve, a slider, and a changeup. He figures to slip into the rotation behind Michael King as the No. 2 starter for the Padres.
Depending on what else Preller can add, the Padres can count on one less bullpen game per trip through the rotation by adding Ray. The report is that the Padres and Giants will split the remaining $8 million owed to Ray for the rest of the 2026 season. He is a free agent at the end of the year.
The Padres relinquish a shortstop who has made a big splash in the Dominican Summer League in his first season after signing as a top international prospect. Joniel Hernandez has plus tools on both sides of the ball but is only 17 years old and a good distance from helping any team as a major league player.
RHP Miguel Mendez has been a starter for the Padres since being signed as an international prospect in 2021. He made his stateside debut in 2022 and recently began a rehab assignment with Fort Wayne at High-A after suffering a shoulder injury earlier this season while playing for Double-A San Antonio.
Mendez, 24, excelled last year with Fort Wayne, pitching to a 1.32 ERA in 12 games started, but has had issues with command and injuries this season.
With Robbie Ray added to the Padres’ starting rotation, the Padres have King, Ray and RHP Walker Buehler for their current rotation and hope to get RHP’s Nick Pivetta and/or Joe Musgrove back later this month after their rehab stints are completed.
Both Musgrove and Pivetta are scheduled to start their rehab with Lake Elsinore on Tuesday.
