Padres acquire veteran left-hander Robbie Ray from Giants in deadline trade

San Diego completed a deadline-day deal with the San Francisco Giants that sends the Padres’ top-10 prospects Miguel Méndez, a right-handed pitcher, and shortstop Joniel Hernández to the Giants in exchange for veteran left-hander Robbie Ray and the assumption of half of his $7.4 million 2026 salary. Ray, 34, who won the American League Cy Young Award in 2021, posted a 1.09 ERA over his last eight games and is set to pitch for San Diego in Arizona within the next two days. The trade addresses the Padres’ need for additional starting-rotation depth after recent moves left Michael King and Walker Buehler as the only traditional starters. The team has been operating with an expanded bullpen, a strategy they acknowledge is not sustainable over the long term. Ray will become a free agent after the season. The Giants acquire Méndez, a 24-year-old ranked fourth in San Diego’s prospect list, and Hernández, a 17-year-old shortstop ranked ninth, both currently playing in the lower minors.