Tyler Glasnow Trade: Scouting Reports On Every Rays, Dodgers Player Involved
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Hours after introducing Shohei Ohtani, the Dodgers swung another major acquisition.
The Dodgers agreed to acquire righthander Tyler Glasnow and outfielder Manuel Margot from the Rays in exchange for righthander Ryan Pepiot and outfield prospect Jonny DeLuca on Tuesday night. ESPN’s Jeff Passan was first to report the deal.
Glasnow, 30, has one year remaining on his contract but is reportedly working toward an extension with the Dodgers. He joins a staff that needed starters with Ohtani unable to pitch in 2024, Walker Buehler coming back from a second Tommy John surgery, Dustin May and Tony Gonsolin likely out for the season after having major surgeries and Clayton Kershaw (shoulder surgery) and Julio Urias (administrative leave) both free agents and uncertain when they will pitch again.
The Rays, meanwhile, made their latest cost-cutting trade involving a star. Glasnow joins Blake Snell, David Price and James Shields on the long list of frontline starters the Rays have traded away due to cost concerns.
DODGERS RECEIVE
Tyler Glasnow, RHP
Age: 30
The 6-foot-8 flamethrower has some of the best stuff in the game, but he also comes with durability concerns. Glasnow has never made more than 21 starts or pitched more than 120 innings in a season. Most recently, he had Tommy John surgery in 2021 and missed the first two months of last season with an oblique strain. When he is on the mound, Glasnow can still dominate. He went 10-7. 3.53 with 162 strikeouts in 120 innings last season and was the Rays’ Game 1 starter in the American League Wild Card Series. He is due to make $25 million in 2024 and will be a free agent after the season pending an extension with the Dodgers.
Manuel Margot, OF
Age: 29
Margot has never hit enough to live up to the lofty hopes for him held as a prospect, but he’s an above-average defender who can play all three outfield positions and has the speed to be a threat on the basepaths. He’s hit .281/.341/.420 against lefties in his career, compared to .244/.294/.370 against righthanders, and fits as a righthanded-hitting platoon partner with James Outman in center field. He will make $10 million in 2024 and has a $12 million team option with a $2 million buyout for 2025.
RAYS RECEIVE
Ryan Pepiot, RHP
Age: 26
A two-time Top 100 Prospect, Pepiot long had loud stuff but took time to harness his control. He finally clicked last season and posted a 2.14 ERA with 38 strikeouts and—most importantly—only five walks in 42 innings as a swingman/spot starter for the Dodgers. Pepiot has a high-spin 94-95 mph fastball that touches 98 with hard armside run. His upper-80s changeup with late dive is a plus offering that gets empty swings and his mid-80s, sweepy slider is an above-average pitch that plays as an effective third offering. Everything Pepiot throws is effective when it’s in the zone, but he has long struggled to throw strikes for extended periods of time. His fastball command is inconsistent and his changeup too often is a ball out of the hand that big league hitters let go by. Like the Rays successfully did with Glasnow, they will try to get Pepiot in the zone more so his stuff can play. He’ll slot into the Rays rotation immediately and is under team control through 2028.
Jonny DeLuca, OF
Age: 25
The Dodgers No. 13 prospect in the upcoming BA Prospect Handbook, Deluca was an elite long jumper and relay runner in high school and was the best athlete in the Dodgers’ farm system. Long a toolsy athlete who struggled to hit, he dropped switch-hitting after college and began to produce after batting righthanded only. DeLuca has muscular forearms and a big, powerful righthanded swing. He’s more of a masher than a pure hitter, but he crushes fastballs and makes enough contact to get to his power. He hits lefties particularly hard and has made strides against righthanded pitching. DeLuca primarily shines on defense. He’s a plus runner with expansive range in the outfield and is an above-average defender at all three outfield positions. He has above-average arm strength that prevents runners from taking extra bases. DeLuca projects to be a valuable role player who plays strong outfield defense and crushes lefties, but he could become an everyday option with further improvements against righthanded pitching.
