Dodgers Discussing Trade With Rays for Tyler Glasnow, Manuel Margot
After signing two-way superstar Shohei Ohtani to a record-setting contract, the Dodgers’ front office got to work on addressing their starting pitching problem. They are now discussing a blockbuster trade that would send outfielder Jonny DeLuca and pitcher Ryan Pepiot to the Tampa Bay Rays for right-handed ace Tyler Glasnow and outfielder Manuel Margot.
The trade gained momentum Tuesday but is not yet complete, a source confirmed to Dodgers Nation. Other reports confirmed the details of the two-team, four-player trade:
L.A. has been talking with multiple teams on a potential trade for a starter, but they seem poised to land Glasnow to headline their 2024 rotation.
Last season with the Rays, Glasnow started 21 games and posted an ERA of 3.53. He put up a WHIP of 1.08 and stuck out 162 batters over 120 innings of work.
Glasnow returned to form in 2023 after undergoing Tommy John surgery in 2021, which saw him miss some time. He is owed $25 million for this upcoming season, which is the final year of his contract. Through 10 appearances in the playoffs, Glasnow has an ERA of 5.72 and a record of 2-6.
The 30-year-old right-hander has nasty stuff out on the mound and has the ability to carve through lineups like butter. Getting him into the building to work with pitching coach Mark Prior and the rest of the staff could do wonders for his game.
The Dodgers could see how things play out with Glasnow over the year, or they could try to sign him to a contract extension before he reaches free agency. He is from Santa Clarita, so he could be open to staying with the Dodgers long-term.
President of baseball operations Andrew Friedman could also be keen on the idea of acquiring a one-year rental, specifically because Ohtani might be recovered from elbow surgery in time to join the Dodgers’ rotation in 2025.
This move now puts Glasnow front and center of a rotation with second-year sensation Bobby Miller and Walker Buehler. It’s a strong top three to build a rotation around – a position of strength compared to the Dodgers’ three-game NL Division Series loss to the Diamondbacks, when veterans Clayton Kershaw and Lance Lynn combined to allow 10 runs in their only three innings of work.
Pepiot, 26, is 5-1 with a 2.76 ERA in 17 major league games (10 starts) over the last two seasons. The right-hander would have slotted into the Dodgers’ young 2024 rotation to build off his strong debut. Now, it appears the Dodgers will use him to add a veteran starter with a longer track record of success.
DeLuca, a Thousand Oaks native, hit .262 with a .311 on-base percentage and .429 slugging percentage in limited playing time after making his major league debut in June. The 26-year-old rookie made some sparkling catches on defense and could have figured into the depth chart at all three outfield positions.
Margot, 29, also has a reputation for sterling defense in eight seasons with the Rays and San Diego Padres. A career .255 hitter, Margot has shown flashes of power and stolen-base potential at times, but his .694 career OPS attests to his glove-first reputation.
Like swapping Pepiot for Glasnow, using DeLuca to acquire Margot amounts to a swap of potential for proven talent between two similar players.
Photo Credit: Vincent Carchietta-USA TODAY Sports
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I really think this is a bad deal. Pepiot could be really good, and to give him away for one year and Margot?
Please don’t trade away Pepiot
and Please NOOOOO more margots, or mckinneys or barnes, rojas’, peraltas, and many others.
Better to play and develop the minor league prospects or just find actual hitters.
The Dodgers problem is not defense. Their defense has been adequate, even if it could be better.
But giving up hitting for defense is not the answer.
It is position players who can’t hit, and lack of clutch hitting.
And pitchers who can’t stay healthy.
Especially in the post season.
Signing lourdes gurriuel jr would be much better than margot.
Please don’t trade away Pepiot
and Please NOOOOO more margots, or mckinneys or barnes, rojas’, peraltas, and many others.
Better to play and develop the minor league prospects or just find actual hitters.
The Dodgers problem is not defense. Their defense has been adequate, even if it could be better.
But giving up hitting for defense is not the answer.
It is position players who can’t hit, and lack of clutch hitting.
And pitchers who can’t stay healthy.
I’m more upset that they are trading DeLuca than Pepiot. After Pepiot, we have Stone and Frasso. DeLuca fills left field right now. Only other person on the roster that can play LF is Taylor, and he’s getting old. And there’s nobody else in the minors ready until maybe 2025…
Pepiot is good, maybe really good. He has 5 years of control left and he will likely pitch as many innings in 2024 as Glasnow, possibly almost as good innings. Get Glasnow, yes, but don’t give up Pepiot. The team gains no rotation innings by trading Pepiot for Glasnow, and Pepiot is good. Acquire only very good players from here on. Glasnow yes, Margot no. The Dodgers have 30 prospects in the minor leagues who have not yet debuted in MLB, who other teams will take in trades. They have 3 catchers blocked by Smith (and by Ohtani as DH and Freeman at 1B) [Cartaya, Rushing, and a younger one even better than those two]. They have many arms who could be traded to willing trade partners but only do so for really good pitchers, please. Trading multiple prospects for fewer, better players is OK given where things stand now. Why accumulate people you end up giving away in the long run, anyway, due to 40-man roster issues and due to no place for them on the 26-man roster?
Tend to agree with Roger and the others. The Dodgers have way too many pitchers on the mend now (Buehler, May, Gonsolin, Kershaw, Treinen, etc.), why add another…….unless it’s just for one year. I’m okay with one year of Glasnow. But to think he should be resigned in 2025, given his extensive injury history, is just plain crazy. I would suggest they give up Knack, Grove or Stone for Glasnow, rather than Pepiot,. Bottom line is the Dodgers need AT LEAST 2 MORE HEALTHY starting pitchers in 2024 beyond just Glasnow. Lets face it, given Buehler’s innings limit this year, add him to Glasnow and you get ONE great starting pitcher not two.
I would only include Pepiot if Arozarena was in the deal instead of Margot. He would be the perfect right handed hitter the Dodgers need, and a clutch player in the postseason.
Totally agree. Hell no on Margot. Hopefully we get Yamamoto and/or Imanaga.