ARLINGTON -- Left-hander Robbie Ray made his final start for the Giants against the Padres on Thursday night at Petco Park. Four days later, he’s heading back to San Diego.
The Giants sent Ray to the division-rival Padres in exchange for right-hander Miguel Mendez and shortstop Joniel Hernandez ahead of Monday’s 3 p.m. PT Trade Deadline.
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The two clubs are expected to split the remainder of Ray’s $25 million salary for 2026, as well as half of his $1 million reassignment bonus.
TRADE DETAILS
Giants get: RHP Miguel Mendez (now SF's No. 13 prospect), IF Joniel Hernandez (No. 21)
Padres get: LHP Robbie Ray, cash
It’s the third deal in the past two days for the Giants, who also shipped All-Star second baseman Luis Arraez and right-hander Caleb Kilian to the Phillies and sent right-hander Tyler Mahle to the Braves.
The 24-year-old Mendez has spent most of the 2026 campaign with Double-A San Antonio, where he recorded a 4.93 ERA with 38 strikeouts over 34 2/3 innings in 11 starts. Hernandez signed for $1.4 million in January out of his native Cuba. The 17-year-old batted .316 with a .958 OPS and four home runs over 42 games in the Dominican Summer League this year.
The 2021 American League Cy Young winner with the Blue Jays, Ray came over to the Giants from the Mariners in exchange for right-hander Anthony DeSclafani and outfielder Mitch Haniger in January 2024. Ray was in the middle of rehabbing from Tommy John surgery at the time of the deal, but he returned to deliver an All-Star campaign in 2025, when he logged a 3.65 ERA over 32 starts.
The 34-year-old continued to be an effective presence at the top of the rotation this year, recording a 3.08 ERA over 22 appearances (21 starts) for San Francisco. But he was set to hit free agency at the end of the season, which made him an obvious trade chip after the Giants sank near the bottom of the National League West this year.
By parting with Ray and Mahle, the Giants will be left with two vacancies to fill in their starting rotation. Blade Tidwell, the club’s No. 12 prospect per MLB Pipeline, could be recalled from Triple-A Sacramento to plug one of the holes, though the Giants could also consider moving right-hander Adrian Houser back into the rotation over the final two months of the season.