The Los Angeles Dodgers addressed the frontend of their starting rotation early in the offseason by trading for Tyler Glasnow and signing him a five-year, $136.5 million contract extension.
The Santa Clarita native chose to sign long-term because he’s comfortable in the city while also being with an organization that gives him a chance to succeed. Glasnow noted that the deal was a ‘no-brainer‘, keeping him with the Dodgers for a handful of years.
Glasnow’s status as a high-end starting pitcher comes with a degree of risk, however. His injury history is an ongoing topic when referencing potential upside.
But Dodgers president of baseball operations Andrew Friedman believes Glasnow is in a good place where his health won’t be an overwhelming risk for the team, per Jack Harris of the L.A. Times:
“We feel like the arrow is really pointing up and that, over the next few years, he is really going to take on a lot of starts,” Friedman said of Glasnow last week. “The work ethic is there. We spent a lot of time digging into that. And that’s a bet we’re making.”
When reflecting on Glasnow’s medical history, Dodgers pitching coach Mark Prior noted variation in what actually occurred impacts the perception of his injuries:
“I think sometimes with medical histories, there’s usually breadcrumbs of what was going on, what happened,” Dodgers pitching coach Mark Prior said. “I think, in his situation, it sounds like there was some stuff that always persistently lingered.”
Friedman added that Glasnow’s drive to stay healthy and prepare himself also adds to the organization’s confidence in him. In his first season with the Dodgers, the right-hander is on track to be a huge piece to their overall equation:
“The body, the work ethic, the stuff we feel like is going to hold up,” Friedman added. “He’s going to be a big part of what we do.”
Glasnow has begun throwing live batting practice to Dodgers hitters, namely Mookie Betts, whom he struck out on a devastating breaking ball.
The Dodgers currently have a solid amount of depth and quality in their rotation. Of course, injuries happen, and there’s no guarantee every starter on the roster goes the entire year without a hitch.
But a clean Spring Training is a good place to start heading into the Dodgers’ regular season campaign.
What to expect from Tyler Glasnow
Glasnow possesses all the qualities necessary to be an ace in any rotation across Major League Baseball, which is a huge addition to the Dodgers’ starting staff.
The right-hander relies on a high-octane pitch mix that can blow hitters away while limiting damage in bunches due to his whiff ability. Among starters who have logged 300 or more innings since the start of the 2019 season, Glasnow ranks near the top in numerous categories.
He’s second in strikeouts per nine innings (12.5), third in batting average allowed (.194) and second in FIP (2.89) among all qualified pitchers.
Alongside Yoshinobu Yamamoto, Bobby Miller and the rest of the Dodgers’ starting rotation, Glasnow has the pedigree and talent necessary to carry the group.
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