Arizona Diamondbacks trade history: Notable deals

Jeremy Cluff | The Republic | azcentral.com

The Athletic reported last month that rival clubs see Ray as more available now than at any point in the past.

Ray, 28, has a projected salary of $10.8 million for 2020 before becoming a free agent.

He went 12-8 with a 4.34 ERA for the Diamondbacks last season, striking out 235 and walking 84 in 174.1 innings.

The Diamondbacks discussed Ray at length at the trade deadline but did not receive what they deemed a suitable offer.

Could they get one in the offseason?

The New York Yankees are in the center of a lot of the recent trade chatter surrounding Ray.

The team was previously linked to the Diamondbacks pitcher at last season's trade deadline and outfielder Clint Frazier was speculated as a potential piece Arizona could acquire from New York in return.

That talk returned earlier this week.

ESPN's David Schoenfield wrote a story about blockbuster trades for each MLB team and he had Robbie Ray for Clint Frazier as the Diamondbacks' deal.

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Schoenfield wrote: "Ray-to-the-Yankees rumors popped up last season, and the Yankees would love to see what new pitching coach Matt Blake and the club's analytics staff could do with the hard-throwing lefty who has averaged 12.1 strikeouts per nine over the past three seasons but still fights his control (84 walks in 174⅓ innings). He has one year left until free agency, but the Diamondbacks feel like they have rotation depth and they need an outfielder until top prospects Alek Thomas, Kristian Robinson and Corbin Carroll hopefully develop in a few years. Frazier has been overhyped as a prospect, but he does have five years of team control remaining. Yes, Yankees fans would like Madison Bumgarner, but dude wants to hit. He'll stay in the National League."

Schoenfield wasn't the only person to link Ray to the Yankees.

Michael McLoone/USA TODAY Sports

ESPN's Buster Olney listed Robbie Ray as a possibility in New York, especially if the Yankees were to miss out on free agent Gerrit Cole.

He wrote: "The Yankees’ need for Cole might be about 2021 and beyond more than about 2020, because (Masahiro) Tanaka, (James) Paxton and (JA) Happ (who has a vesting option for 2021, based on him making 27 starts or throwing 165 innings in 2020) could all be free agents after next season. So if Cole signs elsewhere, the Yankees need to find another sturdy starter -- and they’ll have to cull through a market that didn’t inspire them to make a big move last winter or last summer. They could call the Diamondbacks about Robbie Ray, or the Indians about Corey Kluber. They could also join the bidding for Madison Bumgarner, although the Yankees, a franchise driven by analytics, would probably examine questions about regression in Bumgarner’s stuff."

NJ.com listed who they could see the Yankees dangling as bait for Robbie Ray or another starter in a trade.

Mike Rosenstein wrote: "As for making a trade, Cashman could use right-hander Deivi Garcia, the club’s top-ranked prospect, and outfielder Clint Frazier as bait."

SB Nation thinks that Robbie Ray would be a good fit with the Yankees.

Ryan Pavich wrote: "If they decided to move him, Ray would be the second recent piece that Arizona has sold off with one year left on his contract. Arizona traded Paul Goldschmidt to the Cardinals last offseason for a package consisting of pitcher Luke Weaver, catcher Carson Kelly, infielder Andy Young, and a compensatory draft pick. Weaver and Kelly were the headliners in the deal and were both former top prospects, but Goldschmidt was a higher-profile trade acquisition. Ray could go for less, possibly centered around a pitching prospect like Albert Abreu, but interest from other teams could drive the price back up. Depending on the bidding, the Yankees could enter the waters for Ray and get a solid insurance option while they entice the big fish on the market."

MLB.com listed Robbie Ray among 10 players who could be traded by the 2020 MLB trade deadline

Mark Feinsand wrote: "Ray was a popular name on the trade rumor mill last summer, but the D-backs opted to keep him as Arizona remained in the National League Wild Card race. That might be the case again this summer, though general manager Mike Hazen dealt Zack Greinke while still trying to compete, so the decision to keep or trade Ray -- who will be a free agent next winter -- and the desire to contend might not be mutually exclusive. Starting pitching is always in demand come July, so if Ray is in the midst of a season reminiscent of his 2017 performance -- he went 15-5 with a 2.89 ERA in 28 starts that year -- the left-hander will be a sought-after commodity."

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