The Giants are heading toward a trade deadline sell-off, and Robbie Ray looks like one of the clearest names headed out the door.
If San Francisco does move the left-hander, the Cubs have been floated as a logical match. Bob Nightengale of USA Today recently suggested Chicago would be a strong trade partner, and the fit is easy enough to see: the Cubs need starting pitching, and they’re in the thick of the race. They sit second in the National League Central, six games behind the Milwaukee Brewers, while also holding the No. 1 spot in the NL Wild Card standings.
A deal for Ray would give Chicago’s rotation a boost, but for the Giants, the real question is what the return could look like.
One obvious target is right-handed pitcher Jaxon Wiggins, the No. 3 prospect in the Cubs’ system. The 24-year-old has a 6.45 ERA in the minors this season, though his 2024 numbers were much stronger, when he posted a 2.19 ERA across 78 innings.
He spent time on the IL earlier this year and has made only eight starts, which helps explain the rougher results. Still, he brings a plus fastball, a nasty slider, and a changeup that’s still developing.
He’d jump into San Francisco’s top 10 prospects right away and could reach the majors sometime in 2026.
The Giants could also use the opportunity to address another area they didn’t touch in the MLB Draft: catcher. Owen Ayers is one name that fits that lane.
The switch-hitter is batting .316/.427/.621 with 22 home runs and 63 runs batted in in the minors this season. With San Francisco already leaning on three rookie catchers in Daniel Susac, Jesus Rodriguez, and Drew Cavanaugh, adding another young backstop would make sense.
There’s also bullpen help on the board. Erian Rodriguez and Luis Martinez-Gomez are two young arms the Giants could pursue, especially with the bullpen needing a reset after this season. The trade market could be the quickest way to start that process.
In the best-case scenario for San Francisco, the return wouldn’t stop at one prospect. If Buster Posey could somehow pull off a package built around Wiggins, Ayers, and Martinez-Gomez for Ray, that would be a major haul. And if the Cubs are pushing hard enough for pitching, they might be willing to pay up.
The Giants may not be shopping for help themselves, but they can still use this deadline to take advantage of teams trying to chase October. If Chicago gets desperate, San Francisco could come away with a strong return.
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For the Giants, the appeal is obvious because the pitching target is the kind of arm that can change a rotation conversation, but the cost is not small when both outgoing players are controlled for years to come. Schmitt has given the club useful infield flexibility and Miller has become a reliable bullpen option, which is why this kind of idea lands with some force even before any real negotiations begin. [Read more 🡒]
Giants Suddenly Have Trade Deadline Leverage Fans Did Not Expect
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That kind of urgency matters for the Giants because they have more than one outfield piece that could draw attention if the right deal comes along. Jung Hoo Lee, Heliot Ramos and Harrison Bader all give San Francisco different options in a market where a rivals injury situation can create leverage, and the next few days could tell a lot about how aggressively clubs are willing to chase outfield insurance. [Read more 🡒]
Giants Injury Picture Just Got More Concerning Than Fans Feared
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It is the kind of medical map that forces a team to think in layers, not just weeks. Matt Gage is coming off a PRP injection for a left elbow strain, Jose Butto is continuing his throwing progression after right arm surgery, and Hayden Birdsong, Randy Rodriguez and Rowan Wick all sit on longer-term timelines that stretch well beyond the current push. Even with Chapman and Bader offering some hope for the near future, the overall picture is still one of uncertainty, and the Giants are left waiting to see which reinforcements arrive soon enough to matter. [Read more 🡒]