The Padres went into the deadline needing help on the mound, and they paid up for it. The problem is that the early returns from their biggest additions have been rough, and San Diego is still trying to claw its way into the NL wild card race.
Robbie Ray was the first big swing. The Padres pulled the former Cy Young-winning left-hander from the division-rival Giants in a deal that sent prospect right-hander Miguel Mendez, San Diego’s No. 4 prospect, and shortstop Joniel Hernandez, their No. 9 prospect, to San Francisco. Ray had been steady with the Giants, going 10-6 with a 3.08 ERA, 1.29 WHIP and 107 strikeouts against 57 walks in 22 appearances, including 21 starts over 122.2 innings.
Since landing in San Diego, though, the command has gotten even shakier. In six starts for the Padres, Ray is 1-2 with a 4.71 ERA, 1.57 WHIP and 20 strikeouts to 20 walks across 28.2 innings. The stuff hasn’t really changed from what he was showing in San Francisco, but the results have slipped, and the Padres need him to settle in quickly if they’re going to finish the job.
Then came the last-minute move for Casey Mize. San Diego acquired the Tigers right-hander at the buzzer, sending left-handed pitching prospect Kash Mayfield, the Padres’ No. 2 prospect, and lefty Jackson Wolf to Detroit.
Mize’s numbers have been even tougher since the trade. He has gone 1-3 with a 6.67 ERA, 1.52 WHIP and 15 strikeouts to nine walks in six starts, covering 27 innings.
That’s a sharp drop from what he gave Detroit before the deal. With the Tigers, Mize was 4-6 with a 2.70 ERA, 0.99 WHIP and 85 strikeouts to 19 walks in 16 starts over 86.2 innings.
Even with those struggles, San Diego’s playoff odds have improved since the front office added Mize, Ray and reliever Hunter Stratton, who has only pitched in Triple-A. ESPN’s Bradford Doolittle noted Thursday, “Other pickups haven't played much,” and added, “So, the early returns haven't been great for the acquisitions, yet the Padres rank fifth in post-deadline run differential and have solidified their playoff odds. They need that momentum to continue and, for that, they figure to need more consistency from their deadline adds.”
The schedule gives the Padres a possible path to make it interesting. They’ll host the D-backs in the final series of the season, a matchup that could turn into a win-and-in situation. For that to matter, San Diego needs much better outings from Ray and Mize over the stretch run.
In Other News...
Casey Mize Trade Is Suddenly Looking Better For The Tigers
Casey Mize arrived in San Diego at the trade deadline with the kind of profile that can still intrigue a contender: a former top pick with talent, pedigree and a chance to help down the stretch. The Padres took him on August 3 with the hope he could stabilize the staff, but the early returns have been rough. Through six starts, Mize has gone 1-3 with a 6.67 ERA, leaving the deal looking far less like a boost for San Diego than a bet that has yet to pay off.
Detroits side of the trade has been uneven, but it has not been empty. Jackson Wolf has pitched well in Triple-A, giving the Tigers at least one encouraging sign, while Kash Mayfield is currently injured. The overall picture is still fluid, which is what makes deadline deals so hard to judge right away, but for now the Tigers have more reason to feel patient than the Padres do to feel satisfied. [Read more 🡒]
Padres Just Watched A Familiar Yankees Problem Resurface
The Yankees had a jolt of concern in the middle of a game against the Padres when center fielder Trent Grisham exited with right hamstring discomfort after a stolen base attempt. Aaron Boone said imaging is expected to help clarify the injury, and for now the club is treating it as something that appears serious without making any immediate call on an injured list move.
For San Diego fans, it was another reminder of a familiar issue following Grisham around this season, since he had already missed time with a similar hamstring strain. Even before any formal diagnosis, the timing matters for New York because a center fielder trying to stay on the field after one leg issue is now dealing with another, and the next step will tell the Yankees how long they might be without him. [Read more 🡒]
Michael King Can Make The Soto Trade Hurt Yankees Again
The Padres got one of the more useful pieces from the Juan Soto deal in Michael King, and now he gets a chance to line up against the Yankees in the series finale. San Diego has used King as a starter after bringing him over from New York, and the move has paid off in a big way as he has become a steady arm in the middle of the rotation.
King's rise makes the old trade look even more layered for both sides, since the Padres were trying to turn Soto's final year of control into long-term value. A strong outing against his former club would only add to the sense that San Diego extracted real pitching help from a deal that was always going to be judged through more than one lens. [Read more 🡒]