San Francisco Giants Have Another Arm Available Beyond Robbie Ray at the Trade Deadline

The San Francisco Giants are open for business. That much is clear as the MLB trade deadline creeps closer, with starter Robbie Ray already surfacing as a name to watch. But he’s not the only pitcher the Giants could ship out.

Mark Feinsand of MLB.com recently published a list of 20 players he expects to be traded before the deadline, and along with Ray and infielder Luis Arraez, he included Tyler Mahle. The 31-year-old right-hander has had an uneven season, but there’s reason to think he could help a contender.

Mahle’s numbers don’t tell the whole story

Mahle currently carries a 5.31 ERA across 16 starts. That’s not going to scare anyone. But if you’ve watched him lately, you’ve seen something different. He’s allowed three earned runs or fewer in four of his last five outings. That’s the kind of trend that gets front offices talking.

Feinsand described Mahle as a “decent gamble” for teams that miss out on the bigger names. And he’s got a point. Mahle was excellent last season with the Texas Rangers, posting a 2.18 ERA in 16 appearances. That version of him is still in there somewhere.

Mahle broke into the big leagues with the Cincinnati Reds in 2017. He’s always had stretches where he looks like a frontline starter. The problem has been consistency. He’ll string together four or five good starts, then get knocked around for a couple weeks. It’s frustrating, but it’s also why a team might be able to get him without giving up a top prospect.

Teams looking for mid-rotation help could pivot here

There’s a feeding frenzy every year for the top rental starters. Guys like Tarik Skubal or Garrett Crochet will cost a haul. But teams that miss out — or teams that don’t want to empty their farm system — need alternatives. Mahle fits that profile. He’s not a superstar, but he’s not a scrub either. He’s a veteran who has performed in the playoffs before and could stabilize a rotation’s middle innings.

The Giants are clearly in sell mode. Arraez has drawn tons of interest. Ray will too. Mahle might not generate the same headlines, but he could end up being a sneaky good pickup for someone. Given his recent form and his track record when healthy, there’s a real chance he’s better than his current ERA suggests.

One scout I spoke with said Mahle’s stuff is still there. The fastball sits around 94, the splitter has bite, and he’s locating better than he did in April and May. Sometimes a change of scenery is all it takes.