Robbie Glenn Ray is an American professional baseball pitcher who is a free agent. He has played in Major League Baseball for the Detroit Tigers, Arizona Diamondbacks and Toronto Blue Jays. Ray was an MLB All-Star in 2017 and won the American League Cy Young Award in 2021.
Robbie Ray: Mariners| Game log| Splits| Next Start| Fantasy
Mariners:
The Mariners are closing in on an agreement with reigning American League Cy Young winner Robbie Ray, as first reported by Michael Mayer of MetsMerized (Twitter link). It’s a five-year deal worth $115MM and an opt-out after the third season, reports ESPN’s Jeff Passan.
Joel Sherman of the New York Post adds that the contract includes a full no-trade clause in the first two seasons and a trade assignment bonus if he’s moved thereafter. Ray is represented by VC Sports Group.
Game Log:
| Birthdate: | 10/1/1991 (30 y, 1 m, 29 d) | |||
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Drafted: | 2010 June Amateur Draft – Round: 12, Pick: 1, Overall: 356, Team: Washington Nationals | |||
| Contract: | 5 yr, $115M (2022-26); can opt out after 2024 | |||
| AAV: | $23.0M | |||
| Service Time: | 7.007 | Free Agent: | 2027 | MiLB Options: |
Splits:
Infielder Steve Lombardozzi and lefty reliever Ian Krol can contribute to Detroit in 2014, but southpaw prospect Robbie Ray was the centerpiece of this deal for the Tigers, according to Bob Nightengale of USA Today:
Ray split the past season between Single-A and Double-A, and he’s shown enough promise in the minor leagues to think he could evolve into a force for Detroit’s rotation down the line.
Next Start:
The 22-year-old lefty turned the corner in 2013 with improved stats across the board. He’s always been able to strike people out, but he’s also shown a lack of control throughout his career, which appears to be the biggest flaw in his game.
Big walk totals have been a trend for Ray since he turned professional; that will be his biggest hurdle before making the jump to the big leagues.
Fantasy:
But a good fastball doesn’t do you any good if you can’t keep it in the strike zone, which should be Ray’s focus going forward.
Outlook
Dombrowski has already declared that Krol will be added to Detroit’s bullpen, moving Drew Smyly into the rotation for 2014. If Ray is able to maintain his status as a strikeout pitcher while increasing his control, there’s reason to believe he could be ready for a September call-up in 2014.
