MLB insider warns SF Giants shouldn't get hopes up on return for 2 trade chips

The two most obvious trade chips for the SF Giants at the trade deadline are Robbie Ray and Luis Arraez. However, MLB insider Jeff Passan of ESPN warns that the Giants probably aren’t going to get a huge haul for either player. 

Passan broke down the 25 most likely trade candidates ahead of the August 3 deadline with Ray and Arraez being the two Giants in the bunch. He made it clear that the Giants shouldn’t expect a hefty return in exchange for either player.  

“San Francisco should do pretty well for Robbie Ray, but we’re not talking top-hundred type prospect, more like a couple guys, one lottery ticket, one near big-league ready guy.”

That seems reasonable even if it is somewhat disappointing. Passan acknowledges that while Ray has been pitching quite well as of late, his contract is still pretty large even if he will be a free agent after the season. 

The Giants could pay down some of the remaining money Ray is owed to try to get better prospect out of a deal but even then the Giants probably aren’t going to get a huge haul.

Jim Bowden’s prediction of what the Giants could get in a mock trade with the St. Louis Cardinals may be a decent benchmark of what to expect for Ray even if it’s not the most exciting return in the world.

Arraez will probably draw a similar return to Ray for Giants

As for Arraez, Passan says, “The Giants are going to want something good back, not gonna be a top-hundred guy but they’ll get a pretty decent prospect and I think the market there is going to be strong.”

So it sounds pretty similar to Ray. Probably two prospects, maybe one who is close to the big leagues and another who is a little further off.

That’s not awful but if those are the only two deals the Giants make at the deadline they will have missed a real opportunity to infuse a rising farm system with more talent. That’s why the Giants may have to turn to a player like Heliot Ramos who is under team control beyond this season if they want to get a bit heftier of a return.

Arraez and Ray are still nearly certain to be dealt, it's just a sad reality that rentals don't often bring back the biggest return. Whoever gets either player is likely only getting them for a couple of months so teams aren't going to sell the farm for a player like that unless it's Tarik Skubal.

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