The Los Angeles Dodgers made the biggest splash of the MLB offseason by signing Shohei Ohtani to a historic contract, but they still have a lot more work to do as they prepare for the 2024 season.
The biggest need on their roster is starting pitching, and it has been since the start of the offseason. As it currently stands, the Dodgers only have Bobby Miller, Ryan Pepiot, Emmet Sheehan and Walker Buehler — who is returning from Tommy John surgery — as part of their projected rotation.
Ryan Yarbrough and Michael Grove can figure into that mix as well, but the Dodgers seem to prefer both of them out of the bullpen. Even with them included, however, the group still needs both a top-of-the-rotation talent and depth.
The Dodgers have already been connected to notable free agents, including Yoshinobu Yamamoto and Blake Snell, and they have also been busy looking into the trade market, which includes Dylan Cease, Corbin Burnes, Tyler Glasnow and Shane Bieber.
As they look to add at least two starters this offseason, a trade for Glasnow appears to be gaining some steam, according to Fabian Ardaya of The Athletic:
Rays right-hander Tyler Glasnow has emerged as a prominent Dodgers trade target over the last week, according to multiple people familiar with the situation. Some sources suggested that talks could pick up now that the Dodgers have secured an agreement with Ohtani.
Glasnow is one of the most talented starting pitchers in baseball when he’s healthy, but that has been a primary concern for him.
Since his 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.
He 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 has one more year of team control before he becomes a free agent after the 2024 season. He is due to earn $25 million next year, which would be the largest single-season salary in Rays franchise history.
There is an expectation the Rays are almost a guarantee to trade the right-hander.
What would Tyler Glasnow cost in a trade?
The trade price for Glasnow is going to be one of the more difficult ones for teams to agree on.
On one hand, he is a legit ace and would upgrade any pitching staff, but on the other, he has had durability issues with only one year of control remaining.
Ultimately, the trade cost should be reasonable, and far lower than the cost for Cease or Burnes. It’s exactly the type of high upside pitcher the Dodgers would target as well.
As they Rays look to remain competitive, they would likely request someone MLB ready, or close to it.
Nick Frasso, Michael Busch and River Ryan are names that could interest Tampa Bay, but it seems doubtful the Rays could acquire more than one of them without including more.
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