Cody Snavely
Just days after signing star two-way player Shohei Ohtani to a massive 10-year $700 million deal, the Dodgers are quickly addressing considerable holes in their rotation. Bruce Kuntz from DodgersDigest reported that the Dodgers and Rays were in the final stages for a Tyler Glasnow Trade. This later confirmed by Ken Rosenthal shortly after.
The Dodgers would send RHP Ryan Pepiot and OF Jonny DeLuca to the Rays for RHP Tyler Glasnow and OF Manuel Margot.
Is a trade for Glasnow worth it?
The Dodgers, known as a pitching powerhouse, struggled mightly in 2023, with their rotation posting their highest ERA from the starting five, which posted a collective ERA at 4.57 and ranked 20th in the league. With multiple injuries to Tony Gonsolin and Dustin May and the uncertain future of Dodgers legend Clayton Kershaw, the need for quality, proven arms is at an all-time high.
Enter Tyler Glasnow, who is in the last year of his contract with the Rays and is due $25 million in 2024. The Rays, facing their biggest payroll number in franchise history, had long been rumored to have Glasnow on the trade block to trim the payroll back to a more comfortable number. However, with a high demand and limited supply of pitching, the Rays could capitalize on a potential trade.
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For the Dodgers, pitching depth is the least of their concern as they have a plethora of young, unproven arms waiting in the minor leagues. However, a trade for Glasnow gives them much more clarity on their rotation for 2024. For many fans giving up Ryan Pepiot, who has five years of control left and showed great promise in 2023, is a lot for a rental. Although, the Dodgers can easily replace that production with several arms waiting in their system.
While the ask is high, the need for a quality, proven starter in Glasnow is a necessity. Given the current state of the Dodgers rotation. Glasnow instantly becomes the Dodgers’ number one arm and is a nice bridge piece for Ohtani, who will not pitch until 2025.
However, according to Jeff Passan from ESPN, the trade is contingent on Tyler Glasnow signing an extension, the dollar amount and years of which have yet to be reported. Still, those around the league expect the deal to be finalized soon.
UPDATE: Right-hander Tyler Glasnow and the Los Angeles Dodgers are finalizing a five-year, $135 million contract. The total deal could get to $145M if Dodgers exercise a $30M club option in year 5. If not, Glasnow has a $20M player option.
What value does Margot bring?
This trade is mainly happening due to the Dodger’s need for a front-line starting pitcher. Getting Margot, a league-average player throughout his career, is not the worst option that the Dodgers could pick up. Margot brings the Dodgers stability to their platoon options while being a plus defender and base runner.
The Dodgers seem to value a league veteran presence for their platoon roles, which explains why they took a flyer on David Peralta last season. During the 2023 season, Margot had a .264/.310/.376 slash line while posting a below-league-average 91 OPS+. However, where Margot shines is being a plus defender in the outfield. Per Baseball Savant, Margot has an 80th percentile OAA (Outs Above Average), an area the Dodgers could improve overall, as the defense was a minor issue for the team in recent years.
While the Dodgers get the starting pitcher they need, along with a right-handed bat to give them depth, it is a little disappointing that the Dodgers didn’t offer more to entice the Rays to trade away Randy Arozarena. This trade would have broken the baseball world and made the Dodgers one of the scariest teams in recent memory.
Where do the Dodgers go next?
Part of the reason that Ohtani signed with the Dodgers and deferred $680 million in his contract is for the Dodgers to build a World Series contending team around him, Betts, and Freeman, and all signs point to the Dodgers fulfilling their end of the bargain.
Multiple outlets also reported that the Dodgers met with star Japanese pitcher Yoshinobu Yamamoto, who was brought to Dodgers Stadium with Ohtani, Betts, and Freeman, who were all in attendance to make their pitch. Yamamoto, who grew up a Dodgers fan, could see what the team is trying to build now and perhaps take less money or years to play with his childhood team and Japanese idol Shohei Ohtani.
If not Yamamoto, the Dodgers will likely look to add another back-end starter to fill out their rotation, as the loss of Pepiot is another blow to their depth. While minor league pitchers Gavin Stone, Emmet Sheehan, and perhaps Landon Knack will get their shot, someone like Lucas Giolito makes a ton of sense for the Dodgers. However, Jon Heyman has also linked the Dodgers to all-star closer Josh Hader as the only serious contender for his services, which may mean the Dodgers are taking the bullpen approach to their pitching woes in 2024.
Be sure to listen to the latest episode of the Bleed Los Podcast as we discuss the Tyler Glasnow trade, Ohtani introduction, Yamamoto, and more!
