Dodgers Make Another Splash, Acquiring Tyler Glasnow, Manuel Margot From Rays
On the same day Shohei Ohtani was officially introduced as a Los Angeles Dodger, the franchise acquired one of baseball’s most electrifying starting pitchers: right-hander Tyler Glasnow.
Shortly after Ohtani’s massive press conference concluded on Thursday, reports surfaced that the Dodgers had struck a four-player deal with the Tampa Bay Rays, centred around Glasnow and outfielder Manuel Margot.
Los Angeles will also receive $4 million in cash as part of the blockbuster trade, with a pair of young players, right-handed starter Ryan Pepiot and outfielder Jonny Deluca, going the other way.
Additionally, the deal was contingent on the Dodgers extending Glasnow, who’s entering the final season of a back-loaded two-year, $30.35-million contract signed in 2022. Both sides agreed to a five-year, $135-million contract on Friday, beginning next season.
The 30-year-old hurler will earn $25 million in 2024, as was the case involving his previous deal, resulting in an additional $110 million over the ensuing four years. It also includes a $30 million club option for 2029. If declined, it’ll trigger a $20 million player option.
Unlike Ohtani’s record-breaking $700 million contract, Glasnow’s new deal doesn’t include any salary deferrals.
Since the Japanese two-way star – who underwent elbow surgery last September – won’t be able to pitch in 2024, the Dodgers have been seeking to improve a starting rotation that imploded during last season’s brief playoff run. And, on the surface, they appear to be off to a strong start.
Glasnow made 21 starts a season ago, recording a 3.35 ERA while posting career-highs in strikeouts (162), innings pitched (120.0) and fWAR (3.2) during his sixth – and final – season with the Rays.
Tampa Bay acquired the Southern California native – along with outfielder Austin Meadows and right-handed starter Shane Baz – in a mid-season, lopsided 2018 trade with the Pittsburgh Pirates in exchange for fellow righty starter Chris Archer.
When healthy, Glasnow – a former fifth-round selection in 2011 – has proven to be a reliable front-line starter. Injuries, however, have loomed large over his eight career big-league seasons and remain his biggest question mark heading into the 2024 campaign.
A left oblique strain cost him the first two months of 2023, delaying his season debut until late May. He was limited to just 12 starts in 2019 due to a forearm injury and also underwent Tommy John surgery two seasons later, ultimately making a pair of starts in his return in ‘22.
Despite an extended injury report, Glasnow appears poised to strengthen Los Angeles’ starting rotation next season, positioning him alongside Walker Buehler – who hasn’t pitched in the majors since June 2022 – Bobby Miller, Emmet Sheehan and former Rays teammate Ryan Yarbrough.
Other rotation additions could be on the horizon, with the Dodgers actively pursuing Japanese free agent Yoshinobu Yamamoto, who reportedly met with the club at Dodger Stadium on Tuesday.
Margot, who’s owed $10 million in 2024 and has a $12 million club option for ‘25, which includes a $2 million buyout, should help fortify the organization’s outfield depth. He’s likely to be primarily utilized in a platoon role versus left-handed pitching.
The 29-year-old righty hit four home runs, 38 RBIs and slashed .264/.310/.376 with a 93 wRC+ across 99 games for the Rays last season. For his career, he’s hit .281/.341/.420 with 14 bombs and a 109 wRC+ over 877 plate appearances against lefties.
This move does come at a fairly steep price for the Dodgers, surrendering a talented young arm like Pepiot – a former Top 100 prospect – and a power-hitting outfielder in Deluca, as both players could earn meaningful reps with the Rays next season.
The 26-year-old righty, under club control through 2028, has appeared in 17 games (10 starts) in the majors over the last two seasons, posting a 2.76 ERA with 80 strikeouts while holding opponents to a .179 AVG across 78.1 innings. He’ll likely compete for a rotation spot next spring alongside fellow youngsters Taj Bradley, Jacob Lopez and Baz.
Deluca, who made his MLB debut last season, recorded a .294/.390/.566 slash line with a 136 wRC+ while blasting 17 home runs in 73 games across two levels (double-A, triple-A) before arriving to the majors. He went 11-for-42 (.262 AVG) with two home runs in 24 contests with the Dodgers.
Given the recent trade rumours surrounding Randy Arozarena, Deluca – capable of playing all three outfield positions – could become an integral piece next season, joining a group that features Jose Siri, Josh Lowe and Luke Raley.
-Thomas Hall
Twitter: @ThomasHall85
Photo: Jake N. This file is licensed under the Creative Commons Attribution 2.5 Generic license.