As the Los Angeles Dodgers look to bolster their starting rotation, they have remained connected to the top available starting pitchers on the market, including Tyler Glasnow of the Tampa Bay Rays.
Glasnow is set to be a free agent following the 2024 season and has a salary of $25 million, which is why the Rays made the ace available. When healthy, Glasnow is one of MLB’s top pitchers, but he has struggled to stay on the field for much of his career.
The Dodgers have been prominently connected to Glasnow and he was a popular target on the market.
After the talks began to heat up, the Dodgers have acquired Glasnow and Manuel Margot for Ryan Pepiot and Jonny DeLuca, contingent on the right-handed signing an extension with the club, according to Jeff Passan of ESPN:
BREAKING: The Los Angeles Dodgers and Tampa Bay Rays are in agreement on a trade to send RHP Tyler Glasnow and OF Manuel Margot to the Dodgers for RHP Ryan Pepiot and OF Jonny Deluca — contingent on Glasnow signing an extension with L.A., which is expected, sources tell ESPN.
— Jeff Passan (@JeffPassan) December 15, 2023
Since his MLB debut in 2016, Glasnow has only managed to throw 100 innings in a season twice, with the first coming in 2018 with 111.2 and the second in 2023 with 120.
The 30-year-old did not make his 2023 debut until May 27 due to a left oblique strain that was sustained in Spring Training, but he did manage to stay healthy the rest of the season. Glasnow finished 2023 going 10-7 with a 3.53 ERA, 2.91 FIP, 1.08 WHIP and 12.2 strikeouts per nine over 21 starts.
Glasnow immediately takes a spot at the top of the Dodgers rotation and provides them with a true impact arm. Although the Dodgers need innings from their rotation during the regular season, the hope should be focused around keeping Glasnow healthy for October starts.
Meanwhile, Margot fills the need for an outfielder and right-handed bat the Dodgers were looking for. Margot is coming off a season in which he hit .264/.310/.376 with a 93 wRC+.
Over his career, he’s hit .255/.309/.385 with a 90 wRC+ and 9.6 WAR. Margot figures to platoon with Jason Heyward as the starter against left-handed pitching, where he has fared better with a career 109 wRC+.
On the road in 2023, Margot has also performed better, hitting .295/.337/.435 away from Tropicana Field, where he hit .242/.297/.314.
Dodgers trade Ryan Pepiot and Jonny DeLuca
Pepiot struggled in his first season at the Major League level in 2022 before getting injured at the start of 2023, but he was solid upon his return.
The 26-year-old threw 42 innings with a 2.14 ERA and 4.18 FIP while striking out nearly 24% of hitters and walking 3.1%.
DeLuca made his MLB debut in 2023 and posted solid results across 24 games, hitting .262/.311/.429 with a 102 wRC+. The 25-year-old likely did not figure to be part of the Dodgers long-term plans.
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