SF Giants hold the perfect backup plan for teams that miss out on Tarik Skubal trade

In a different universe, the SF Giants might have been thinking about kicking the tires on a trade for left-handed ace Tarik Skubal. Yet, with the team 12 games under .500 they are almost certainly going to be sellers rather than buyers at the trade deadline.

That could put them in a pretty advantageous position though. There are going to be a lot of contending teams inquiring to the Detroit Tigers about Skubal’s availability, but only one may be lucky enough to land him. 

There are no guarantees Skubal will be dealt, but barring a big turnaround from the Tigers, who have arguably been even more disappointing this season than the Giants, they probably will trade him since he is going to be a free agent after this season.

Either way, the Giants hold what could be many teams’ Plan B if they are unable to get Skubal. Robbie Ray is a far cry from Skubal talent-wise, but he may be the best left-handed starter available in trade talks after the two-time reigning American League Cy Young winner. Plus, Skubal did teach Ray how to throw his changeup.

Like Skubal, Ray is going to be a free agent after this season and there’s already been plenty of speculation that the Giants will trade him. They probably wouldn’t get a huge haul for him unless a team was really desperate for a starter but he could still get a decent return.

Ray's trade value has dropped a bit but he is still a good trade chip

Even though his numbers for 2026 are much worse than the first half numbers he put up last year to earn him an All-Star nod, he has a 4.12 ERA in 67 and 2/3 innings pitched, he’s still a veteran left-handed pitcher who could be a solid No. 3 or No. 4 starter in a playoff team’s rotation.

All of the teams who seem likely to check in on Skubal such as the Chicago Cubs and New York Yankees could very easily pivot to Ray if they cannot land the big fish. That will at least give San Francisco some leverage if these teams are desperate for a starter so maybe they can milk more out of them.

It would be a lot more fun to imagine a trade package the Giants could put together to land Skubal, but the team has not been good enough to warrant it. At least they have a trade chip in Ray that teams should be interested in.

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