Left-hander Robbie Ray has declined the opt-out clause in his contract, that means that he’ll stay with the Giants for each the 2025 and 2026 seasons. ESPN’s Jeff Passan (X hyperlink) was the primary to report the information. The five-year, $115MM pact Ray signed with the Mariners previous to the 2022 season was barely backloaded, and thus Ray will earn $25MM in every of the 2025 and 2026 seasons.
It’s not terribly shocking that Ray is taking the proverbial fowl within the hand right here. He underwent ulnar collateral ligament reconstruction, generally referred to as Tommy John surgical procedure, and a flexor tendon restore in Could of 2023. Whereas recovering from that operation, the Mariners traded him to the Giants.
Ray was in a position to get again on the mound with San Francisco in 2024, however made seven begins with an unimpressive 4.70 earned run common earlier than spending the month of September on the injured record because of a left hamstring pressure.
Pitchers with damage query marks can nonetheless receives a commission however Ray could be hard-pressed to search out greater than $50MM on the open market. Carlos Rodón had loads of damage absences in his early profession however was in a position to safe a two-year, $44MM deal from the Giants going into 2022. Nevertheless, Rodón had simply made 24 begins for the White Sox in 2021 with a 2.37 ERA and was going into his age-29 season. Ray, alternatively, is now 33 years outdated and has made eight begins over the previous two years with a 5.03 ERA.
Taking all that into consideration, Ray’s finest monetary transfer was to maintain this assure. He’ll return to the Giants subsequent yr and hopefully get again on observe. Whereas it’s most likely unrealistic to count on him to get again to his Cy Younger successful kind from 2021, getting even a part of the best way again there could be good. The yr that he earned that {hardware}, he made 32 begins for the Blue Jays with a 2.84 ERA, 32.1% strikeout fee and 6.7% stroll fee.
One Big starter is departing, as Blake Snell has opted out of his deal. Subsequent yr’s rotation in San Francisco tasks to incorporate Ray, Logan Webb and Kyle Harrison. Maybe Jordan Hicks will get one other shot at beginning or perhaps he’ll be again within the bullpen. Guys like Landen Roupp, Keaton Winn, Tristan Beck, Hayden Birdsong and others would even be within the combine.
If the membership seems to be to bolster that group, the free agent market shall be headlined by guys like Snell, Corbin Burnes, Max Fried, Jack Flaherty and loads of others. The commerce market ought to characteristic Garrett Crochet, Sonny Grey and extra.
