The Giants and Mariners made a massive trade on January 5, one that saw both San Francisco and Seattle trade from their MLB depth. Former Cy Young winner Robbie Ray is headed to the Giants via trade, while Anthony DeSclafani and Mitch Haniger are headed back to the Mariners on the other side of the deal.
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The Giants’ Return
- SP Robbie Ray (8.10 ERA, 3 K over 3.1 IP)
After an incredible 2021 campaign that saw Robbie Ray win the AL Cy Young, the left-hander signed a massive five-year, $115MM deal with the Seattle Mariners.
Ray’s first season in Seattle was fine, aside from a nightmarish postseason. The 32-year-old struck out 212 batters over 189 innings and ranked above average in terms of Chase% (31.0%) and Whiff% (30.0%). However, Ray made just one start in 2023 before going down to both Tommy John and flexor tendon surgeries.
While Ray does have a curveball and changeup, Ray primarily used a four-seam fastball, along with a slider that plays off it, and a two-seamer with the M’s in 2022. It’s a change for Ray, as he’s steadily used the curve less and less over the years.
The slider is Ray’s bread-and-butter pitch. He has no qualms about using it as a backfoot option against righties and can be very tough to pick up thanks to tunneling and his delivery, which has changed in recent years.
But what makes everything come together for Ray is the four-seam fastball, a pitch that only sits 92-94 MPH but one with ride and movement. In 2022, Ray had an above-average 18.1” inches of IVB on the four-seamer. Couple that with above-average extension and one could see why Ray’s been dominant over the years.
Ray’s proven to be an elite strikeout pitcher, highly valued among teams looking to avoid variable outcomes in the field. The problem with Ray, however, is that he likely won’t be back until the second half of 2024 due to rehab from the aforementioned surgeries.
The Mariners’ Return
- SP Anthony DeSclafani (4.88 ERA, 79 K over 99.2 IP)
- OF Mitch Haniger (.209/.266/.365, 6 HR and 20 XBH over 61 G (229 PA))
Veteran starter Anthony DeSclafani has been a steady hand in the Majors since he established himself as a regular in 2015.
The 33-year-old’s been well-known for his above-average command, as DeSclafani’s BB/9 rate has been below 3.0 in every full season since 2015. However, injuries have held him to just 23 starts over the past two campaigns.
DeSclafani sits in the 92-94 MPH with both his two-seamer and four-seamer, the latter of which is not a bad offering despite the lack of velocity. It’s got some run and a decent IVB (16.3” in 2021), although he’s opted to use it less over the past years in favor of the sinker.
Additionally, DeSclafani’s got a good slider and will pair his fastballs with a changeup.
The other piece in this deal is Mitch Haniger. This marks the second consecutive offseason where Haniger’s been on the move. Last winter, Haniger signed a multi-year deal with the Giants.
Haniger returns to the Mariners, where he had his best years as a Major Leaguer. The 33-year-old went to the All-Star Game in 2018 and hit a career-high 39 home runs just two years ago.
Haniger’s been an exceptional breaking ball hitter. In that aforementioned 2021 campaign, Haniger finished tied for eighth alongside Franmil Reyes and Adolis Garcia for most home runs (13) off breaking balls.
Yet at that same token, Haniger has the bat speed to do damage against fastballs. Health, however, has been the real problem for the veteran outfielder in recent years. The 33-year-old’s played just 118 games over the last two years.
Haniger, like Ray, has an opt-out after the 2024 season.
Analysis
The Giants do have some talented pitching prospects in Kyle Harrison and Carson Whisenhunt who are knocking on the door. Harrison, who made his MLB debut last year, could be in the Giants rotation come Opening Day.
However, the Giants still needed another reliable arm to line up alongside Logan Webb and Alex Cobb, the latter of whom may miss the start of 2024 due to hip surgery. The NL West will be a tough one for the Giants to contend in and an arm like Ray gives San Francisco much-needed reinforcements.
As for the Mariners, the trade does follow the team’s modus operandi of the offseason. Thanks in part to potential TV revenue losses tied to ROOT Sports, the Mariners already moved Eugenio Suarez, Marco Gonzales, and Evan White. Now, Robbie Ray has been moved via trade after two years in Seattle — even though it’s virtually a neutral financial deal given that about $3MM is going to Seattle.
Now, the good news for Seattle is that the Mariners have the depth in the rotation. Between Luis Castillo, Bryce Miller, Bryan Woo, George Kirby, Logan Gilbert, and potentially Emerson Hancock, the M’s are fine barring injuries. Plus, Seattle did get back a veteran arm in DeSclafani.
Additionally, Ray did net the Mariners Haniger, who’s had success with the team in the past. He can be of help to Seattle, as the M’s have lost some power this winter. However, health will decide whether Haniger can be a difference-maker yet again.