Padres trade for Ray, Mize to help rotation woes
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- The Padres acquired left-hander Robbie Ray from the Giants and right-hander Casey Mize from the Tigers at Monday's trade deadline, also receiving third baseman Gage Workman from Detroit
- San Diego entered Monday 11 games behind the Dodgers in the NL West but one game out of the final wild-card spot, having gone 8-2 over their last 10 games
- The Padres' rotation posted a 4.66 ERA — fourth-highest in the majors — and aside from Michael King, no starter has delivered deep outings, forcing a nightly bullpen act
- Robbie Ray went 4-0 with a 1.36 ERA in five June starts and 3-0 with a 2.00 ERA in five July starts, but his 11.1% walk rate ranks third-highest among qualified starters
- Casey Mize is posting a career-best 2.70 ERA with 85 strikeouts in just 86⅔ innings, though he has twice hit the injured list with a strained groin and is a free agent after this season
- San Diego gave up only prospects: Cuban shortstop Joniel Hernandez and Double-A right-hander Miguel Mendez to the Giants, and High-A left-hander Kash Mayfield to the Tigers
- Joe Musgrove and Nick Pivetta remain on the injured list, with both still needing to clear steps before rejoining a rotation the Padres are actively trying to salvage
Why it matters: The Padres added two starters while paying only in prospects, betting Ray's recent dominance and Mize's 2.70 ERA can fix a rotation with the fourth-worst ERA in baseball. Both carry real risk — Mize is a rental free agent with chronic groin issues, Ray's walk rate ranks third-highest among qualified starters — making this a calculated gamble for a team one game out of a wild-card spot.
