Amidst all the moves made by the Dodgers, the Padres — a club well-known for being aggressive — made their own big move on August 3. Robbie Ray, who’s pitched very well for the Giants this season, was shipped to the San Diego Padres for two prospects. Headlining the return is hard-throwing pitcher prospect Miguel Mendez.

The Padres’ Return

• SP Robbie Ray (3.08 ERA, 107 K over 122.2 IP)

Even a former Cy Young Award winner needs to reinvent himself every now & then.

Once a dominant fastball/breaking ball pitcher, Robbie Ray has overhauled exactly how he’s worked opposing hitters in recent years — and it’s worked. Last season, Ray added a changeup that he worked through alongside now-division rival Tarik Skubal. Now, this season, a sinker to play off that changeup. While it’s more of a runner than a sinker, it’s made a difference.

With that pitcher, Ray has transitioned from a power pitcher to someone who can induce more groundballs, which he has done. Granted, Ray can get tagged for mistakes from time to time, and the numbers do bear that out. However, he’s more of a complete pitcher now. One who can work all quadrants of the strike zone, and help set up that newfound changeup of his.

Ray is set to be a free agent at the end of the season.

The Giants’ Return

• SP Miguel Mendez (4.79 ERA, 39 K over 35.2 IP (AA))
• SS Joniel Hernandez (.303/.424/.503, four HR & 21 XBH over 41 GP (DSL))

Miguel Mendez, arguably a top-10 prospect within the Padres’ system, is the headliner among the return for the Giants.

Mendez was added to the 40-man roster last season after a very good season in A-ball, one that saw him finish it out in Double-A. He was hit hard last season with San Antonio last year. But in 2026, he hadn’t allowed a home run, even though the ERA was a tad bit high.

Live arm who can hit the triple-digits with his fastball, making his floor provided he can maintain the velocity. However, repeating the mechanics and limiting walks will be the key for Mendez, who we noted earlier in the year could be a reliever in the long-term.

The other piece to this deal is 17-year-old infielder Joniel Hernandez. Given a $1.4MM signing bonus in January, the Cuban walked 32 times over 41 games in the DSL this season & hit very well.

Analysis

The Giants stockpile more assets, just hours after the club traded away Luis Arraez and Caleb Kilian to Philadelphia. Just like with Arraez, Ray was a pending free agent who, instead of losing him for nothing, brought the club back two upside prospects.

As for the Padres, the club will need all the help possible to handle the Diamondbacks and the Dodgers to make the playoffs. And to try to beat those clubs in October. Ray is a proven arm who can beat hitters in a variety of different ways, and he’s set to join a rotation that could look very different over the coming weeks.

Why? Nick Pivetta and Joe Musgrove are working their way back from injury.

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