Fansided

5 starting pitchers the Padres could acquire before Opening Day

By Brad Berreman

TORONTO, ON - JUNE 29: Toronto Blue Jays Starting pitcher Marcus Stroman (6) pitches during the regular season MLB game between the Detroit Tigers and Toronto Blue Jays on June 29, 2018 at Rogers Centre in Toronto, ON. (Photo by Gerry Angus/Icon Sportswire via Getty Images)
TORONTO, ON - JUNE 29: Toronto Blue Jays Starting pitcher Marcus Stroman (6) pitches during the regular season MLB game between the Detroit Tigers and Toronto Blue Jays on June 29, 2018 at Rogers Centre in Toronto, ON. (Photo by Gerry Angus/Icon Sportswire via Getty Images) /
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Mandatory Credit: Denis Poroy/Getty Images
Mandatory Credit: Denis Poroy/Getty Images /

3. Robbie Ray, Arizona Diamondbacks

It’s tempting to look at Arizona’s rotation and put Zach Greinke on this list, but he’s older (35) and far more expensive ($104.5 million coming to him through 2021) than Ray.

Ray avoided arbitration by agreeing to a one-year, $6.05 million with the Diamondbacks back in January. Arizona also apparently wants to keep the left-hander this season, despite offseason trade rumors and the idea of a rebuild within the organization.

Ray has one more year of team control left before hitting free agency, which makes him an appealing trade target. In six career starts (33.1 innings) at Petco Park, he has a 3.51 ERA, a 11.1 K/9, a 1.14 WHIP and a .168 opponent’s batting average with six home runs allowed.

The Padres probably wouldn’t have to part with any of their top prospects to get Ray, and they have a surplus of young outfielders the Diamondbacks could have some interest in. For those two teams a trade within the division should not be a roadblock, and Ray might fit very nicely as a No. 2 or No. 3 starter in San Diego going forward.

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