The Atlanta Braves hold the best record in the National League with (36-17), and have a comfortable lead in the NL East with a 9.5-game cushion. They are currently taking on the Washington Nationals in a three-game series at home.
With just over two months remaining until the MLB trade deadline, it’s fair to speculate which names across Major League Baseball could be moved, and one player that’s recently surfaced in rumors is San Francisco Giants starter Robbie Ray.
Is Robbie Ray a starter the Braves may consider making a trade for? He should be if the Braves can get him at the right price.
More MLB on Heavy: Atlanta Braves Could Find Perfect Trade Candidate In AL West Southpaw Reliever if Struggles Persist
Braves Urged to Target Robbie Ray Via MLB Trade
GettySAN FRANCISCO, CALIFORNIA – APRIL 7: Robbie Ray #38 of the San Francisco Giants pitches against the Philadelphia Phillies in the first inning at Oracle Park on April 7, 2026 in San Francisco, California. (Photo by Brandon Vallance/Getty Images)
In a recent piece for FanSided.com, MLB writer Wynston Wilcox mentions the Braves as a team that could be in play for Giants’ southpaw starter Robbie Ray:
“This makes sense for a couple of reasons. For one, the San Francisco Giants could look to offload Robbie Ray if their season continues to sputter under first-year coach Tony Vitello; they may be forced to offload some players to get something in return and sell at the deadline. The Braves have managed to make it a couple months into the season without getting exposed by lack of pitching depth. Adding Ray to the rotation gives them a little more depth.”
The reason Robbie Ray has emerged in recent trade discussions is that he’s on an expiring five-year, $115 million contract. Robbie Ray is a durable starter and is a few years removed from winning the AL Cy Young.
Atlanta has received some great contributions from starters like Martin Perez, Bryce Elder, and Grant Holmes, but after Chris Sale and Spencer Strider, how reliable will Braves starters be for the rest of the season? The next question becomes what could get trade to the Giants to get a deal done for Ray? It shouldn’t be much, because Ray has posted a 4.28 ERA this season over 54 innings, and doesn’t look as sharp as he has in previous seasons.
More MLB on Heavy: New York Yankees Should Consider Making Trade for Rockies’ $50 Million Pitcher
What Could Braves Trade in Potential Robbie Ray Deal?
SAN FRANCISCO, CALIFORNIA – APRIL 25: Robbie Ray #38 of the San Francisco Giants pitches against the Miami Marlins in the top of the first inning at Oracle Park on April 25, 2026 in San Francisco, California. (Photo by Thearon W. Henderson/Getty Images)
The Atlanta Braves don’t have the deepest farm system in baseball, but they do have attractive arms and young talent that the Giants may be willing to bite on. Those players include prospects like Owen Murphy and Alex Lodise.
JR Ritchie is likely an untouchable prospect at this point, but if the Giants are going to rebuild, they would want young, projectable players.
While it may seem far-fetched now, remember that the Giants pulled off one of the biggest trades of the entire 2025 cycle last June when they dealt away Rafael Devers to the Red Sox.
More MLB on Heavy: Atlanta Braves Make Ha-Seong Kim Announcement Before Nationals Game
Braves-Giants Trade Idea Lands $115 Million All-Star Starter in Atlanta