After making a splash with the record-breaking signing of Shohei Ohtani, the Dodgers are on the verge of acquiring one of the best starters available this offseason: Tyler Glasnow.
And like Ohtani, Glasnow likely isn't going anywhere anytime soon.
The Rays are in agreement on a deal that would send Glasnow and veteran outfielder Manuel Margot to Los Angeles for young starter Ryan Pepiot and outfielder Jonny Deluca, sources told MLB.com's Mark Feinsand, assuming Glasnow signs a contract extension signed with Los Angeles. According to a source, Glasnow is expected to agree to an extension.
The Dodgers made the biggest move of the offseason by signing Ohtani to a 10-year, $700 million contract, but with the two-way star not expected to pitch until 2025, they still had to address their needs take care of frontline pitching. They did so by targeting Glasnow, who was due $25 million next year in the final year of the retroactive extension he signed with the Rays at the end of 2022.
Rather than view Glasnow as a rental, however, the Dodgers are looking to lock up the 30-year-old right-hander — a Southern California native who attended nearby Hart High School — for years to come.
Getting Glasnow will come at a high price for Pepiot, a former top-100 prospect who could effectively fill Glasnow's spot with the Rays and join an intriguing group of young starters in Tampa Bay's rotation. In the long term, it could be a move that benefits both clubs. For now, the Dodgers will sign two more proven players while the Rays will rely on younger replacements.
The 30-year-old Glasnow has often shown some of the most electrifying stuff in baseball, but has been limited by injuries after completing a blockbuster trade deadline deal from the Pirates to the Rays in 2018. When he's on the mound, he dominates hitters with a high-octane fastball and two swing-and-miss breakballs. Last season we saw both sides of the coin.
Glasnow entered spring training fully healthy and missed the first two months of the season due to a left oblique strain. It took him a few starts to find his form, then he posted a 3.14 ERA with 129 strikeouts and held opponents to a slash line of .5 in 94 2/3 innings over his final 16 regular-season starts. 204/.255/.310. He finished the year with 120 innings in 21 starts, both career highs.
Glasnow was already sidelined in 2019 with a forearm/elbow injury, then underwent Tommy John surgery in 2021 before returning in 2022. If healthy, he would provide a huge boost to a Dodgers rotation that currently features Walker Buehler (who missed all of last season), former Rays left-hander Ryan Yarbrough and young guys like Bobby Miller and Emmet Sheehan.
Of course, the Dodgers are also reportedly in the market for Japanese standout Yoshinobu Yamamoto and could bring back Clayton Kershaw, who is recovering from left shoulder surgery, later this season.
The 29-year-old Margot is also a good fit for the Dodgers, especially as a platoon partner for veteran outfielder Jason Heyward. As a right-handed hitter who is primarily used against lefties, Margot can skillfully play all three outfield spots. He is due $10 million next season, with a $12 million club option (or a $2 million buyout) for 2025. He is a career .281 hitter. .341/.420 against left-handed pitchers, compared to .244/.294/.370 slash line against right-handed hitters.
The return also makes a lot of sense for the Rays, whose projected payroll would have been well above franchise-record levels if they had brought everyone back next season. By bringing in MLB-ready talent, the Rays can restructure their roster with an eye on the present and one on the future without taking major steps backwards in competition.
The 26-year-old Pepiot has posted a 2.76 ERA with 80 strikeouts in 78 1/3 innings in 17 appearances for the Dodgers over the past two seasons. He is not yet eligible for salary arbitration and would be under the club's control through the 2028 season, making him not only a short-term replacement for Glasnow but also a long-term option if the deal is completed.
The Rays have plenty of candidates in their rotation to start next season, including Zach Eflin, Aaron Civale, Zack Littell and young starters Taj Bradley, Shane Baz and Jacob Lopez. However, they should be closer to full strength by 2025, when they expect Shane McClanahan to return from Tommy John surgery following the return of Jeffrey Springs and Drew Rasmussen in the mid-to-late 24s. It's understandable that adding a young arm like Pepiot to the mix is attractive.
Deluca, 25, has the profile of a less experienced Margot: a right-hander who has filled all three outfield spots. He made his big league debut in 2023 and hit .262/.311/.429 with two home runs in 45 plate appearances. He thrived in the minors, posting a .956 OPS in 73 games between Double-A and Triple-A.
The Rays have two everyday outfielders who will return in Jose Siri and Randy Arozarena, as well as two starters who are left-handed in Josh Lowe and Luke Raley.