Report: Phillies, Astros very interested in D-Backs' Ray

Teams are reportedly calling about the availability of Arizona Diamondbacks left-hander Robbie Ray, and the Philadelphia Phillies and Houston Astros are interested in working out a deal, according to Nick Cafardo of the Boston Globe.

Ray, 27, spent a chunk of 2018 on the shelf thanks to a strained oblique. He finished with a 6-2 record and a 3.93 ERA over 24 starts. While his strikeouts remained high (12 K/9), he walked more than five batters per nine innings.

Still, the All-Star's propensity to miss bats makes him an ideal target for teams in need of pitching. Ray is also entering his second year of arbitration, so he wouldn't be as pricey as a front-line free agent.

The Astros seem set to move on from lefty Dallas Keuchel, who's still a free agent. After losing Lance McCullers Jr. to Tommy John surgery and Charlie Morton to the Tampa Bay Rays, there are question marks in Houston's rotation beyond Justin Verlander and Gerrit Cole.

The Phillies have an entirely right-handed rotation right now, and they were one of the teams linked to southpaw Patrick Corbin before he signed a six-year contract with the division-rival Washington Nationals.

While there's no word yet on whether the Diamondbacks would consider trading Ray, he wouldn't be the first significant piece the team has moved this offseason. Arizona has already traded longtime first baseman Paul Goldschmidt to the St. Louis Cardinals, and the team has reportedly been considering trade options for starter Zack Greinke.