Giants Pitcher Could Become Top MLB Trade Target if Struggles Continue

The San Francisco Giants‘ 2026 season is headed in the wrong direction, fast. The same can be said of veteran left-hander Robbie Ray.

The 34-year-old is a two-time All-Star and former Cy Young Award winner (in 2021 with the Toronto Blue Jays). After that season - in which he led the American League in ERA, innings, strikeouts, and WHIP - Ray signed a five-year, $115 million contract with the Seattle Mariners.

More news:The Giants Won The Patrick Bailey Trade, But Have Larger Issues

That contract will expire after the 2026 World Series. As his season lurches forward, Ray increasingly seems unlikely to finish the year out in a Giants uniform.

At 22-32 through May 25, the Giants are tied with the New York Mets for the second-worst record in the National League. Their odds of making the playoffs stand at 5.9 percent according to FanGraphs.

Ray made the National League All-Star team last summer, but has started slowly, going 3-6 with a 4.60 ERA in his first 11 starts of the season. On the surface, that makes him an unattractive trade candidate.

More news:Devastating Injury to Astros is Validation for Giants, Mets

Yet the Giants have no reason to wait on Ray to turn things around in short order. His expiring contract is an attractive one to contending teams, and his struggles could be mitigated by a simple role change.

Ray is a different pitcher against left-handed batters (.229/.296/.313 opponents’ slash line) than against right-handers (.246/.335/.521). He’s been better in the first inning (.726 opponents’ OPS) than the second (.938 OPS) or third (.843).

More news:MLB Umpire Leaves Game After Enduring Unluckiest Inning Ever

The simple solution: move him to the bullpen. Armed with a curveball and a changeup that have been effective against right-handed hitters, Ray could help any number of contending teams if the majority of his looks came against left-handers, or if he did not have to face opposing right-handed hitters more than once.

Ray has accomplished plenty in his 11-year career, but he has never won a World Series. His next postseason game will be his seventh - and his first since 2022 with the Mariners.

That might be enough to compel Ray, who’s started in all but four of his 276 MLB appearances, to make the move to the bullpen at age 34. The move might be necessary to make him attractive to a contending team.

For more MLB news, visit Newsweek Sports.

2026 NEWSWEEK DIGITAL LLC.

This story was originally published May 26, 2026 at 1:46 PM.