Player Outlook
Robbie Ray took home the AL Cy Young for his work with Toronto in 2021 and was signed to a five-year, $115 million contract by the Mariners after the season. After a solid if unspectacular 2022 campaign that saw him register a 3.71 ERA and 212:67 K;BB over 189 innings, the left-hander was only able to make one start in 2023 before suffering a flexor strain that eventually led to Tommy John surgery in May, and he's expected to miss the first half of 2024. When healthy, Ray still has some of the better swing-and-miss stuff of any left-handed pitcher in baseball, and he's seen a dramatic improvement in his ability to throw strikes over the past two seasons thanks to some mechanical changes made after joining the Blue Jays in the middle of 2020. The question now becomes how much a year-plus delay will impede the 31-year-old's command, and if he'll still have the same ability to miss bats following the operation. There's certainly reason to believe he can be a strong option following next year's All-Star break, but there's considerable risk that comes with the potential reward.

Fantasy Stats

Year fpts
Fantasy Points
fpts/g
Fantasy Points per Game
ip
Innings Pitched
w
Wins
l
Losses
sv
Saves
so
Strikeouts
bb
Base on Balls (Walk)
era
Earned Run Average
whip
Walks and Hits Allowed Per Inning
2024 — — — — — — — — 0.00 0.00
2023 -5.5-5.5 3.3 — 1 — 3 5 8.10 2.70
2022 44113.8 189.0 12 12 — 212 62 3.71 1.19
3y Avg. 32915 128.7 8 7 — 154 40 3.29 1.13

Fantasy News

  • Giants' Robbie Ray: Completes side session

    Ray (elbow) threw a 25-pitch bullpen session Monday, Shayna Rubin of the San Francisco Chronicle reports. Ray likely won't be an option for the Giants until the second half of the season while he completes his recovery from the Tommy John surgery he underwent last May, but he's seemingly steered cleared of any major setbacks through the first 10 months of his rehab program. Though pitchers have returned from the elbow operation in as few as 12 months, Ray's procedure also included a flexor tendon repair, so he'll likely be facing a longer recovery timeline than the typical Tommy John patient.
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  • Giants' Robbie Ray: Placed on IL

    The Giants placed Ray (elbow) on the 60-day injured list Wednesday, Susan Slusser of the San Francisco Chronicle reports. Ray's 40-man roster spot will be given to Austin Warren, who signed with the Giants on Wednesday. Ray underwent Tommy John surgery in May and has recently been cleared to throw three times per week, but he is not expected to join the Giants' rotation until the second half of the season.
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  • Giants' Robbie Ray: Throwing three times per week

    Ray (elbow) said Wednesday that he's been cleared to throw three times per week as he works his way back from May 2023 Tommy John surgery, Alex Pavlovic of NBC Sports Bay Area reports. Ray was limited to just one start in his second season with the Mariners in 2023 before requiring the major elbow procedure. He was dealt to the Giants in January and appears to be on track with his recovery, though he's not expected to be available to make his San Francisco debut until sometime around the All-Star break.
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  • Giants' Robbie Ray: Set to throw from 120 feet

    Ray (elbow) will throw from 120 feet Saturday, Susan Slusser of the San Francisco Chronicle reports. Ray hopes to begin throwing off a mound early on in spring training and said a return around the All-Star break would be a "best-case scenario." Acquired from the Mariners via trade earlier this month, Ray underwent Tommy John and flexor tendon surgery last May. The lefty has an opt-out clause in his contract after this season, but he wouldn't commit one way or another Friday to exercising it or not, saying his main focus is just to get healthy.
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  • Giants' Robbie Ray: Headed to Giants via trade

    The Giants acquired Ray (elbow) from the Mariners on Friday in exchange for Mitch Haniger (back), Anthony DeSclafani (elbow) and cash considerations, Jeff Passan of ESPN.com reports. Ray is still working his way back from Tommy John surgery and is not expected to return until after the All-Star break. However, once healthy, the Giants are hoping he can offer them the frontline rotation help they've been craving. Ray is owed $73 million over the next three seasons, although he can opt out after the 2024 campaign. The lefty won the American League Cy Young award in 2021 with the Blue Jays before holding a 3.71 ERA and 212:62 K:BB over 189 innings in 2022 in his first season in Seattle.
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  • Mariners' Robbie Ray: Moved to 60-day IL

    The Mariners transferred Ray (elbow) to the 60-day injured list on Monday, Shannon Drayer of Seattle Sports 710 AM reports. Ray underwent Tommy John surgery in May and will be out until midway through 2024, so it's hardly a surprise to see him land on the 60-day IL. His transfer makes room for Ty Adcock to join the Mariners' bullpen while Penn Murfee (elbow) is out.
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  • Mariners' Robbie Ray: Undergoes Tommy John surgery

    Ray underwent Tommy John surgery Wednesday, Daniel Kramer of MLB.com reports. The procedure was performed by Dr. Keith Meister in Texas at the TMI Sports Medicine facility. Ray will travel to Arizona in a few weeks following his initial recovery to begin his rehab. The left-hander has already been ruled out for the remainder of the 2023 season, and it's very likely that Ray will miss time to begin the 2024 campaign as well.
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  • Mariners' Robbie Ray: Needs surgery, done for season

    Mariners manager Scott Servais announced Wednesday that Ray is scheduled to undergo season-ending surgery to repair the flexor tendon in his left elbow, Ryan Divish of The Seattle Times reports. After landing on the injured list April 1 with a left flexor strain, Ray was hopeful that rest and rehab would be enough for him to heal from the injury and return to the Seattle rotation around the middle of May. However, with Ray having not made enough progress in the three-plus weeks since suffering the injury to even resume playing catch, he was sent in for additional tests, which revealed damage to a different area of the flexor tendon. With surgery deemed necessary, Ray's 2023 campaign will come to an end with him having made just one start. Chris Flexen has entered the rotation since Ray was first shut down with the elbow injury, but Servais suggested that the organization will re-evaluate its starting depth with the knowledge that the 2021 American League Cy Young Award winner is done for the season.
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  • Mariners' Robbie Ray: Could return in middle of May

    Mariners general manager Jerry Dipoto said Wednesday that Ray (elbow) could return from the 15-day injured list around the middle of May, Jen Mueller of Root Sports Northwest reports. Dipoto admitted that the mid-May return is just a guess rather than a firm target for Ray, who has yet to resume a throwing program since sustaining a left flexor strain in his season debut March 31. The left-hander will need to complete several bullpen sessions and make at least a couple of rehab starts before he's deemed ready to rejoin the Seattle rotation.
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  • Mariners' Robbie Ray: Not ready to begin throwing program

    Ray (elbow) told reporters before Tuesday's game against the Brewers that he's not quite ready to begin a throwing program, but that the progression on his left flexor strain has been good and he'll undergo an MRI later this week, Daniel Kramer of MLB.com reports. Ray was placed on the injured list after making just one start because of the flexor strain. The results of the imaging will likely determine when the 31-year-old will be able to start throwing. The hope was that Ray would miss around a month after the injury was announced, and he still has a chance to return to the mound around the start of May.
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  • Mariners' Robbie Ray: To be re-evaluated Monday

    Ray (elbow) will be re-evaluated Monday, after which a throwing program could be mapped out, Daniel Kramer of MLB.com reports. Manager Scott Servais said Ray looks good and feels good, so it sounds like doctors will evaluate him before clearing him to begin a throwing program. Ray could require multiple rehab starts to get built back up, so a return in early May seems like a best-case scenario.
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  • Mariners' Robbie Ray: Not cleared to throw yet

    Mariners manager Scott Servais told reporters before Tuesday's game against the Cubs that Ray (elbow) hasn't started throwing yet but is feeling better, Ryan Divish of The Seattle Times reports. Ray is still waiting for clearance to throw after being diagnosed with a Grade 1 flexor strain after his first start of the season on April 1. The left-hander is expected to miss at least a month, but there's no clear timeline for the 2021 Cy Young winner.
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  • Mariners' Robbie Ray: MRI reveals Grade 1 sprain

    Ray's MRI on Saturday with his elbow revealed that he's dealing with a Grade 1 flexor strain, Ryan Divish of The Seattle Times reports. Ray will be shut down for two weeks while receiving daily treatment and then will be reevaluated. The left-hander told reporters that he didn't experience any pain until the second inning of Friday's start against the Guardians. There's no estimated timetable for Ray to return, but it appears the 31-year-old will miss at least a month before he's able to return to the mound for the Mariners. Chris Flexen will likely take his place in the rotation.
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  • Mariners' Robbie Ray: Sidelined with flexor strain

    Ray was placed on the 15-day injured list with a left flexor strain Saturday. Ray didn't look right against the Guardians on Friday, walking five batters in 3.1 innings while giving up five runs (three earned). A timeline for his return has not yet been established. Chris Flexen, who's started 53 games over the last two years, is likely to step into the rotation in his place, though the Mariners have yet to confirm their plans.
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  • Mariners' Robbie Ray: Can't find plate Friday

    Ray (0-1) took the loss Friday as the Mariners fell 9-4 to the Guardians, giving up five runs (three earned) on four hits and five walks over 3.1 innings. He struck out three. A pair of throwing errors on the same play in the second inning -- one by Teoscar Hernandez and the other by Ray himself -- led to Cleveland's first two runs and softened the blow to the southpaw's ERA. The fact that he threw only 51 of 91 pitches for strikes played a bigger role in his early exit. Ray's success the last two seasons has been built on improved command and a walk rate below 10 percent, and it's far too early to assume he's fallen back into old, wild habits. The 31-year-old will look to bounce back in his next start, likely coming next week at home against the Angels.
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  • Mariners' Robbie Ray: Ends Cactus League strong

    Ray allowed a run over five innings in Saturday's Cactus League start against the Diamondbacks. Ray allowed just two hits in the outing, and he struck out five with one walk. The left-hander was sensational in his time this spring with a 1.06 ERA, 1.00 WHIP and 26:6 K:BB ratio. The 2021 Cy Young winner is slotted to pitch behind Luis Castillo in the Seattle rotation, and he could be in for a strong 2023 campaign based on his results this spring.
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  • Mariners' Robbie Ray: Impressive through three starts

    Ray has a 1.13 ERA, 1.25 WHIP and 12:3 K:BB across eight innings in three Cactus League starts. Ray worked up to 28 pitches in his most recent start Monday against the Angels, and although he's pitched to some contact (seven hits), he' s impressively limited the damage. Ray scuffled to a 12-12 record in Mariners debut campaign in 2022, yet he still generated an impressive 3.71 ERA and respectable 1.19 WHIP across 32 starts. Although the veteran southpaw's strikeout rate did drop from 2021's 32.1 percent in Toronto to 27.4 percent, early returns this spring underscore Ray's ability to miss bats at an above-average clip.
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  • Mariners' Robbie Ray: Yields three homers in loss

    Ray (12-12) allowed six runs (five earned) on eight hits and three walks with three strikeouts in 5.2 innings, taking the loss Sunday versus the Athletics. Ray started off well enough in this one, but he yielded homers to Shea Langeliers, Cristian Pache and Nick Allen between the fourth and sixth innings. This was the third time all year Ray's allowed three homers in a game, and he's given up multiple long balls in three of his last five outings. The southpaw didn't come close to matching his Cy Young season from a year ago, ending the 2022 regular season with a 3.71 ERA, 1.19 WHIP, 212:62 K:BB and 32 homers allowed across 189 innings through 32 starts. The Mariners will likely be counting on him to get things sorted out in his next start, which is expected to be during the wild-card round.
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  • Mariners' Robbie Ray: Spins six scoreless innings

    Ray did not factor into the decision Wednesday, allowing zero runs on three hits and three walks over six innings against the Athletics. He struck out seven. Ray issued back-to-back walks in the first but managed to escape the inning unscathed. From there, he went on to allow just three singles and a walk until being pulled after the sixth inning. It was a nice bounce back for the left-hander, who had allowed four or more runs in each of his last two starts. Up next for Ray is a matchup against the Rangers at home.
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  • Mariners' Robbie Ray: Struggles again Friday

    Ray (12-10) took the loss Friday versus the Angels. He allowed five runs on eight hits and a walk with five strikeouts in five innings. Ray had trouble in the first, third and fifth innings, and the Mariners tried but failed to tie the game after the southpaw's exit. After a seven-start stretch in which he surrendered only four home runs, he's given up that many long balls across his last two outings. He now has a 3.72 ERA, 1.17 WHIP and 194:54 K:BB across 171.2 innings through 29 starts. Ray will look to get back on track next week in a favorable projected road start in Oakland.
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