Cubs Pursue Ray Trade, Absorbing Salary

0:00It's April 17th. Welcome in. This is MLB News Today, where the game meets AI. I'm Corey with the story. Chicago Cubs pitching staff is getting hammered by injuries this season, with key arms like Cade Horton, Matthew Boyd, Porter Hodge, and Phil Maton, all side-mind. Their desperate for rotation help and now linked to a trade for San Francisco Giants lefty, Robbie Ray, and exchange for a top-prospect Jonathan Long. That suggests the Cubs could snag Ray by absorbing most of his $25 million salary, making it a lighter-ass for the Giants. In return, San Francisco lands Long, a bat first slugger who's posted in 877-OPS with 21 homers and 104 RBI's over, 132 AA games since last year. Analysts love the fit, saying Ray's veteran presence would steady a righty heavy staff hurting from all these losses. His career, 3.65 ERA, and recent 2.42 Mark and 4, starts scream reliability for a contender.

1:02This deal positions Ray as a two-to-three-month rental before free agency, a steep prospect price but tempting with first-basement Michael Bush, blocking Long anyway. Cubs GM, Jed Hoyer, might pull the trigger if injuries keep mounting. As the trade deadline heats up, eyes stay on Ray to boost Chicago's ceiling and keep their playoff push alive.