4 Potential Trade Destinations for Diamondbacks Pitcher Robbie Ray

The 2019 MLB Trade Deadline is less than a week away and while things have been quiet so far, we should expect to see a lot of big moves as we near July 31.

One name that has gained a lot of momentum in recent days is Arizona Diamondbacks starting pitcher Robbie Ray. Despite the team being tied for second in the NL West with a 52-51 record, the D-Backs appear destined to sell at the deadline and could net a few high-profile prospects for the electric lefty, who has 162 strikeouts through 123 innings this season.

Here are four teams that could potentially trade for Ray by next week's deadline.

4. Philadelphia Phillies

The Philadelphia Phillies are having somewhat of a disappointing year, considering all the big-time acquisitions they made in the preseason, headlined by Bryce Harper, J.T. Realmuto and Jean Segura. (They also signed Andrew McCutchen, and were dealt a big blow when he tore his ACL in June.) The Phillies may pursue an outfielder, but are also rumored to go after a starting pitcher. The team is just 5.5 games behind the NL East leading Atlanta Braves, and an impact arm like Ray can help tremendously in closing the gap.

3. Houston Astros

The Houston Astros are also rumored to be pursuing a frontline starting pitcher, as their rotation is in a state of flux after their top two of Justin Verlander and Gerrit Cole. The Astros have been linked to almost every starter on the trade market, and have plenty of valuable assets thanks to possessing one of the best farm systems in baseball. Should Arizona require a young pitcher or hitter in return, Houston has players like Kyle Tucker and Josh James to make a deal happen.

2. Milwaukee Brewers

While the Astros own a healthy lead in the AL West, the Milwaukee Brewers are fighting tooth and nail with both the Chicago Cubs and St. Louis Cardinals in a very contested NL Central race. The Brewers are in desperate need of starting pitching, as they are 20th in team ERA (4.66) among MLB teams and just lost their best pitcher, Brandon Woodruff, to an oblique strain that will keep him out for roughly six weeks. The Brewers should be very aggressive in adding a starter and Ray is a name likely near the top of their list.

1. New York Yankees

While the Yankees are one of the best teams in baseball and a likely lock for the postseason, things are starting to turn for their pitching rotation. Their top starters, Masahiro Tanaka and James Paxton, got shelled in their last two starts, as did 2019 standout Domingo Germán, who the Yankees would prefer to scale back for the remainder of the season. On top of that, 2018 ace Luis Severino is not expected to return to the rotation this season. If the Yankees were desperate for a starter a few weeks ago, things have only intensified since. Ray has been heavily rumored to possibly be wearing pinstripes once August 1 hits.

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