Blue Jays Acquire Robbie Ray From D-backs

Image credit: Robbie Ray (Christian Petersen/Getty)

The Blue Jays bolstered their pitching staff by acquiring Taijuan Walker last week. They made another move hours before the trade deadline, acquiring Robbie Ray and cash from the D-backs in exchange for lefhanded pitching prospect Travis Bergen.

Ray has struggled mightily with his control after changing his arm action from last season and is 1-4, 7.84 with 43 strikeouts and 31 walks in 31 innings. 

BLUE JAYS ACQUIRE

Robbie Ray, LHP
Age: 28

Ray was a successful if moderately wild lefhander the last four seasons, but his attempt at improving his control by changing his arm action this year has backfired terribly. He leads the major leagues in walks and has also thrown six wild pitches, showing horrid control that has prevented him from pitching more than five innings in any start this season. But Ray is still missing bats when he’s in the strike zone with a 12.5 strikeouts-per-nine innings mark. The Blue Jays will look to see if they can fix him and get him back to the pitcher that posted a 3.96 ERA as a starter from 2015-19. Ray will be a free agent after this season.

D-BACKS ACQUIRE

Travis Bergen, LHP
Age: 26

Bergen was selected by the Giants in the Rule 5 draft and made his debut with San Francisco last year, but he was returned to Toronto after 21 appearances. Bergen generates some deception from his crossbody delivery that helps his 91-94 mph fastball and 79-81 mph curveball play up. He has been much better vs. lefties (.615 OPS) than righties (.905 OPS) in the majors, but was solidly effective against both in the minors and has a chance to still be effective even with the three-batter minimum rule.