Giants open to covering Robbie Ray's salary in trade
The San Francisco Giants are open to covering part of Robbie Ray's remaining salary to facilitate a trade before the deadline, ESPN's Jeff Passan reports. About $8 million remains on the left-hander's $25 million deal, and paying down that money could help San Francisco land a better prospect return for the pending free agent.
Key Takeaways
- The Giants have signaled they will pay down some of Robbie Ray's remaining salary to help complete a trade.
- Roughly $8 million is left on Ray's $25 million 2026 contract through season's end.
- Ray owns a 3.16 ERA over 116 2/3 innings and a 1.67 ERA in his last nine appearances.
- He is a pending free agent ineligible for a qualifying offer, making a deadline move nearly certain.
- Contenders such as the Cubs have been floated as possible fits for the mid-rotation lefty.
Why are the Giants willing to eat part of Robbie Ray's salary?
Finding a taker for Ray has been complicated by his outsized $25 million salary. Around $8 million remains through the end of the season, dropping to about $7.4 million after Monday's deadline—a hefty sum for two months of a mid-rotation arm.
According to MLB Trade Rumors, covering part of that money would help the Giants fetch a slightly better prospect return than if their only goal were offloading the cash. Ray is among San Francisco's most notable rental trade chips alongside Luis Arraez, and the club is all but guaranteed to move both before the deadline.
How much of Robbie Ray's contract is left to cover?
Ray is making $25 million this season, with roughly $8 million still owed. For clubs tracking payroll and luxury-tax space, that remaining figure is the real hurdle—and the reason San Francisco's willingness to chip in matters for any deal involving athlete pay and contract value.
Because Ray cannot receive a qualifying offer, there is little incentive for the Giants to keep him. He was scheduled to start a series opener in San Diego in what would almost certainly be his final appearance with the team.
What has Robbie Ray's recent pitching looked like?
Ray has posted a 3.16 ERA across 21 starts and 116 2/3 innings. His strikeout rate (20.4%) sits slightly below average, while his walk rate (11.4%) remains elevated. Still, results have held up: he has a 1.67 ERA over his last nine appearances and threw six scoreless innings in a recent start against the Angels.
Even if his Cy Young peak is behind him, he profiles as a No. 3 or No. 4 starter for many contenders and a potential playoff arm—with the caveat that elevated pitch counts can lead to a quicker hook.
Which teams might pursue a Robbie Ray trade?
Bleed Cubbie Blue has framed Ray as a realistic Chicago Cubs target, noting the club could absorb the remaining salary and might not need to surrender a top prospect if it takes on the full freight. The Athletic has also discussed how salary flexibility around the league can unlock unexpected deadline matches involving Giants contracts.
Wherever Ray lands, the Giants' openness to paying down part of his deal widens the buyer pool and raises the odds of a completed trade before the deadline.