MARINERS SIGN LHP ROBBIE RAY TO 5-YEAR MAJOR LEAGUE CONTRACT
Ray won the American League Cy Young Award in 2021
SEATTLE, Wash. — Seattle Mariners President of Baseball Operations Jerry Dipoto announced today that the Mariners have signed left-handed pitcher Robbie Ray to a 5-year Major League contract.
Seattle’s Major League, 40-man, roster is now full at 40 players.
Ray, 30, won the American League Cy Young Award in 2021, receiving 29 of 30 first place votes. The 6-foot-2, 215-pound, left-hander led all qualified American League pitchers in ERA (2.84), strikeouts (248), innings pitched (193.1), games started (32), WHIP (1.045) and bWAR (6.7). He was the first pitcher to lead his league in strikeouts, WHIP and ERA since Clayton Kershaw in 2013. The last AL pitcher to lead the league in all three categories was Justin Verlander in 2011.
“Adding our league’s reigning Cy Young award winner is exciting,” Dipoto said. “He’s a high character person, as well as one of the preeminent strikeout pitchers in the game. Robbie brings real presence to the front of our rotation.”
“Robbie pitched against us twice last season,” said Mariners Manager Scott Servais. “He has that dominating mound presence, paired with the kind of electric stuff you would expect from a Cy Young winner. You can feel it from the dugout. He really controls the game when he’s on the mound. His intensity is a great fit for our pitching staff and our ballclub as a whole.”
Ray tossed at least 5.0 IP in 28 of his 32 starts in 2021, on his way to racking up an American League-best 23 quality starts. He tallied 5+ strikeouts in 27 starts, including 10 outings with 10+ strikeouts. Overall, he went 13-7 with a 2.84 ERA (61 ER, 193.1 IP) with 52 walks and 248 strikeouts in 32 starts in 2021 with the Blue Jays.
“I can’t wait to get started here in Seattle. I’m here to win,” Ray said. “There’s something special going on here with the team coming off a 90-win season, and I’m excited to be a part of it. I’ve already had a chance to speak with some of the guys, and we all want to be a part of the team that brings a championship to this city. Seeing the stadium packed at the end of the season last year, and the support of this fanbase, I could not be more excited to be a Seattle Mariner.”
Ray tallied an all-time record 1,241 strikeouts through his first 1000.0 career innings pitched and is currently the all-time leader in strikeouts per nine (min. 1000 IP) with a mark of 11.2.
Ray is a veteran of 8 Major League seasons with Detroit (2014), Arizona (2015-20) and Toronto (2020-21). He was originally drafted by the Nationals in the 12th round of the 2010 MLB First-Year Player Draft out of Brentwood High School in Brentwood, TN. He made his Major League debut with the Tigers on May 6, 2014 vs. Houston. Overall, he is 62-58 with a 4.00 ERA (460 ER, 1035.2 IP) with 453 walks and 1290 strikeouts in 193 career games (189 starts). He was selected to the National League All-Star Team in 2017.
Ray has made 3 postseason appearances, pitching in the AL Wild Card Game in 2017 & 2020, and the ALDS in 2017.
Robbie and his wife Taylor have three children: sons, Asher and Brady, and daughter, Leighton.
FINAL SCORE: MEMPHIS GRIZZLIES 98, TORONTO RAPTORS 91
DATE: NOVEMBER 30, 2021 ATTENDANCE: 19,800 (Sellout)
FINAL SCORE
RECORD
HIGH POINTS
HIGH REBOUNDS
HIGH ASSISTS
Memphis
98
11-10
Jackson Jr. – 25
Melton – 10
Jones – 6
Toronto
91
9-13
Siakam – 20
VanVleet- 9
Siakam – 5
KEY RUN
The Grizzlies entered the fourth quarter leading by three (70-67), and began the frame on a 14-6 run to extend their lead to 11 points (84-73) with 8:01 remaining.
KEY STAT
Memphis outrebounded Toronto 54-44, including 18-11 on the offensive glass, and held a 26-17 advantage in second chance points.
RAPTORS NOTES:
With the loss, Toronto falls to 9-13 this season and 2-8 at home … The Raptors will continue a season-long seven-game homestand (Nov. 28 – Dec. 13) Thursday against the Milwaukee Bucks.
Pascal Siakam finished with team highs of 20 points and five assists, and added six rebounds in 29 minutes… Siakam has now scored 17+ points in six straight games (Nov. 19-30).
Scottie Barnes recorded 19 points (8-16 FG, 3-6 3PT), seven rebounds and a season-high four blocks in 38 minutes … Barnes is now averaging 18.5 points over the last four (Nov. 24-30).
Yuta Watanabe finished with a season highs of 11 points (4-9 FG, 3-8 3PT) and six rebounds in 28 minutes off the bench … Watanabe missed the first 18 games of the season with a left calf strain.
Toronto tallied a season high-tying nine blocks in the loss.
GRIZZLIES NOTES:
With the win Memphis improves to 11-10, including 4-5 on the road … Tonight’s victory also snaps a seven game winless streak in Toronto – the Grizzlies did defeat the Raptors in Tampa last season … Memphis returns home to play the Oklahoma City Thunder on Thursday.
The Grizzlies led wire-to-wire – their largest lead of the night was 17 points midway through the second quarter.
Jaren Jackson Jr. finished with 25 points, six rebounds and a season-high five blocks in 34 minutes … Jackson Jr. has now blocked at least one shot in a career-high 17 consecutive games – this marks the longest streak by a Grizzlies player since Marc Gasol recorded 22 straight games with a block during the end of the 2010-11 season and beginning of the 2011-12 campaign.
Desmond Bane tallied 23 points (8-16 FG, 5-9 3PT, 2-3 FT) and seven rebounds in 33 minutes … Tonight marked the third time this season Bane tied a career high with five three-pointers … Bane scored 20+ points for the fifth times this season.
Dillon Brooks recorded 17 points, four rebounds and career high-tying four steals in 33 minutes … Brooks has scored in double digits in all eight appearances this season … He missed the first 10 games this season recovering from a fracture to his left hand.
SACRAMENTO — Lakers star LeBron James has entered the league’s health and safety protocols and will miss Tuesday night’s game against the Kings, the team announced on Tuesday afternoon. The four-time league MVP, who is averaging 25.8 points, 5.2 rebounds and 6.8 assists, had already missed 11 of the Lakers’ 22 games because of injuries…
• The Toronto Raptors (9-12) continue a season-long seven-game homestand (Nov. 28 – Dec. 13) Tuesday night against the Memphis Grizzlies (10-10) at Scotiabank Arena. Toronto has lost consecutive games and three of its last four. Fred VanVleet scored 23 points as the Raptors rallied to beat Grizzlies 126-113 in Memphis last week (Nov. 24). The Grizzlies led 71-59 at the half. The Raptors have won seven of the last eight meetings vs. Memphis. • Pascal Siakam recorded 18 points, seven rebounds and a team-high five assists Sunday vs. Boston. Siakam has now scored 17+ points in five straight games (Nov. 19-28). He is averaging 21.0 points an shooting .494 (38-77) from the field, including 40 percent (8-20) from beyond the arc, during this stretch. • Gary Trent Jr. (78) and Fred VanVleet (76) currently rank second and third respectively, in the NBA in deflections. Trent Jr. is also fourth in the NBA in steals per game (2.05) and has recorded multiple steals in 12-of-20 games played this season. VanVleet has led the league in deflections per game each of the past two seasons. Toronto leads the NBA in deflections (19.8) and ranks second in steals (9.6) this season. • Rookie Scottie Barnes contributed 21 points, seven rebounds, three assists and two steals in 37 minutes Nov. 28 vs. Boston – his fifth 20-point game of the season. Barnes currently leads all rookies in scoring (15.2), rebounds (8.3) and minutes (35.3), and ranks third with a .485 field goal percentage (117-for-241). He has paced Toronto in scoring five times, rebounds on seven occasions and assists in four games. • Scottie Barnes is the first Raptors rookie to have five 20-point games since Charlie Villanueva reached the 20-point mark 12 times during the 2005-06 season. Damon Stoudamire hold the franchise record with 37 20-point outings as a rookie in 1995-96. • Fred VanVleet scored a team-high 27 points (8-16 FG, 5-10 3PT, 6-7 FT) Sunday against the Celtics. He has now scored 20+ points in three consecutive games (Nov. 24-28). VanVleet is averaging a team-high 25.3 points, while shooting .529 (27-51) from the field and .444 (12-27) from beyond the arc, over the last three. VanVleet has scored 20+ points a team-high nine times this season. • Toronto has dropped four in a row (Nov. 5-28) at Scotiabank Arena for the first time since Nov. 26 – Dec. 10, 2013. The Raptors will play 10-of-13 games at home in December. • The Raptors announced Sunday Goran Dragic is taking some time away from the team to manage a personal matter. There is no definite timeline, and we will update as appropriate. PROBABLE STARTERS F – SCOTTIE BARNES #4
MIN: 35.3 REB: 8.3 AST: 3.3 STL: 1.1 TO: 2.1 BLK: 0.6 PTS: 15.2 • Recorded 21 points, seven rebounds and three assists in 37 minutes Nov. 28 vs. Boston. • Tied with Precious Achiuwa for the team lead with three double-doubles. • Leads all rookies in scoring (15.2), rebounds (8.3) and minutes (35.3), and ranks third with a .485 field goal pct. F – PASCAL SIAKAM #43
MIN: 33.2 REB: 7.2 AST: 3.6 STL: 0.8 TO: 1.9 BLK: 0.7 PTS: 17.7 • Finished with 18 points, seven rebounds and a team-high five assists in 38 minutes Nov. 28 vs. Boston. • Has scored 17+ points in five consecutive games (Nov. 19-28), averaging 21.0 points during this stretch. • Missed the first 10 games (Oct. 20 – Nov. 5) of the season recovering from left shoulder surgery. . C – PRECIOUS ACHIUWA #5
MIN: 25.7 REB: 8.1 AST: 1.6 STL: 0.5 TO: 1.1 BLK: 0.6 PTS: 8.2 • Tallied six points and a team-high nine rebounds in 36 minutes of action Nov. 28 vs. Boston. • Leads all sophomores in rebounding (8.1); has grabbed 10+ rebounds four times this season. • Averaging 8.1 points, 8.3 rebounds and 25.7 minutes in 14 games as a starter. G – SVI MYKHAILIUK #14
MIN: 25.7 REB: 8.1 AST: 1.6 STL: 0.5 TO: 1.1 BLK: 0.6 PTS: 8.2 • Contributed 12 points, a season-high eight rebounds and two assists in 38 minutes Nov. 28 vs. Boston. • In three starts this season, averaging 14.0 points, 5.7 rebounds, 2.3 assists and 35.8 minutes. • Has scored in double figures five times, inlcuding a season-best 16 points Oct. 30 at Indiana. G – FRED VANVLEET #23
MIN: 25.7 REB: 8.1 AST: 1.6 STL: 0.5 TO: 1.1 BLK: 0.6 PTS: 8.2 • Scored a team-high 27 points Nov. 28 vs. Boston; added six rebounds and three assists in 40 minutes. • Averaging 21.8 points, 5.0 rebounds, 6.1 assists and 38.0 minutes during 13 games in November. • Leads the NBA in minutes per game (38.1), has logged 40+ minutes in five games this season. . INJURY REPORT OG Anunoby (Left Hip; Pointer) – Out Khem Birch (Right Knee; Swelling) – Out Goran Dragic (NWT) – Out Gary Trent Jr. (Right Calf; Contusion) – Questionable
MEMPHIS GRIZZLIES PREVIOUS STARTING LINEUP 2021-22 Regular Season Record When Using This Starting Lineup: 1-0 SF # 24 6-6 ½ 220 Previous Game 21 PTS 6 REB 1 AST 2 STL 0 BLK 21:11 Selected 45th overall in 2017 NBA Draft after guiding Oregon to the school’s first Final Four since 1939. Averaged career highs in points, assists, steals and free throw % in 2020-21. 25.8 PPG in first career playoff series (2021 First Round vs. Utah); 31 PTS in Game 1 win set franchise record for a career playoff debut. DILLON BROOKS Oregon / Canada 5 5th Season PPG: 18.6 RPG: 3.6 APG: 2.3 PF # 13 6-11 242 Previous Game 17 PTS 9 REB 0 AST 0 STL 2 BLK 22:12 Selected fourth overall in 2018 NBA Draft after freshman year at Michigan State. 2018-19 All-Rookie First Team selection. Career-high 43 PTS (9 3PM) on 12/13/2019 vs. Milwaukee; first player in NBA history with 9+ 3PM in a game while under 21 years old. JAREN JACKSON JR. Michigan State / USA 4 4th Season PPG: 15.0 RPG: 5.7 APG: 1.0 C # 4 6-11 265 Previous Game 3 PTS 12 REB 4 AST 1 STL 3 BLK 20:43 Selected 12th overall in the 2013 NBA Draft. Sixth in NBA history in career FG% (.591). Averages 3.5 OREB/G for his career (4.1 OREB/G since 2016-17 season). One of four New Zealand-born players in NBA history. STEVEN ADAMS Pittsburgh / New Zealand 9 9th Season PPG: 6.6 RPG: 8.0 APG: 2.8 SG # 22 6-6 215 Previous Game 18 PTS 5 REB 2 AST 0 STL 1 BLK 26:25 Selected 30th overall in the 2020 NBA Draft. Named 2020-21 NBA All-Rookie Second Team. Led all rookies last season in 3-point percentage (.432), the third-highest rookie 3P% since 2009-10 (Stephen Curry, Jayson Tatum). DESMOND BANE TCU / USA 2 2nd Season PPG: 15.6 RPG: 3.9 APG: 2.0 PG # 21 6-0 ¼ 196 Previous Game 6 PTS 3 REB 8 AST 0 STL 0 BLK 23:49 Selected 24th overall in 2015 NBA Draft. Third player in NBA history to lead the league in assist-to-turnover ratio in three straight seasons (Muggsy Bogues, Chris Paul). Named 2015 NCAA Tournament Most Outstanding Player after leading Duke to the national title. TYUS JONES Duke / USA 7 7th Season PPG: 6.2 RPG: 2.1 APG: 3.3 SF # 24 6-6 ½ 220 Previous Game 21 PTS 6 REB 1 AST 2 STL 0 BLK 21:11 Selected 45th overall in 2017 NBA Draft after guiding Oregon to the school’s first Final Four since 1939. Averaged career highs in points, assists, steals and free throw % in 2020-21. 25.8 PPG in first career playoff series (2021 First Round vs. Utah); 31 PTS in Game 1 win set franchise record for a career playoff debut.
BEARNECESSITIES The Memphis Grizzlies close out the month of November with their first trip north of the border in nearly three years, as the team finishes its two-game season series with the Toronto Raptors… Memphis’ last visit to Toronto came on Jan. 19, 2019 (a 119-90 Raptors victory). Toronto, 2-7 at home but 7-5 on the road, defeated Memphis 126-113 in the teams’ first meeting this season on Nov. 24 at FedExForum. The Grizzlies won their previous road matchup with the Raptors on May 8, 2021, in Tampa, Florida, but are seeking their first victory in Toronto since Feb. 20, 2013… The Raptors have taken the last six tilts played in Toronto. Mississauga native Dillon Brooks, who has scored in double figures in all of his seven appearances this season, scored a team-high 21 points in Memphis’ 128-101 home win over the Sacramento Kings on Nov. 28… It was Memphis’ first game this season without leading scorer Ja Morant, who sustained a left knee sprain in the first quarter on Nov. 26 vs. Atlanta.
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