New Dodger Tyler Glasnow on Shohei Ohtani’s recruiting pitch: ‘It was awesome’
Getting Tyler Glasnow on board with the idea of signing a contract extension with the Dodgers was always going to be an easy sell.
The 30-year-old pitcher, who was traded to Los Angeles last week along with outfielder Manny Margot, grew up a Dodger fan in Santa Clarita. He still has family and friends living in Southern California, and conceded there will be “butterflies” stepping onto the field for his home debut after attending games at Dodger Stadium growing up.
Of course, it didn’t hurt that Shohei Ohtani – who only decided to sign with the Dodgers on Dec. 9 – sent Glasnow a “recruiting video” in advance of the trade and contract extension.
Glasnow went on to say he has watched Ohtani from afar while the two played in the American League – Glasnow with the Tampa Bay Rays and Ohtani with the Angels.
“What he’s able to do on a baseball field is nothing short of insanity,” Glasnow said of Ohtani. “I think his recruitment worked.”
Contingent on the trade going through, Glasnow agreed to a contract extension that can keep him in a Dodger uniform through 2028.
According to the terms of the extension, Glasnow will make $15 million in 2024, then $30 million each of the next three years. In 2028, the Dodgers can exercise a team option that will pay Glasnow $30 million or Glasnow can exercise a $21.5 million player option. He also received a $10 million signing bonus.
Not coincidentally, Ohtani agreed to defer $68 million of his $70 million average annual salary every year of his 10-year contract. That allows the Dodgers to spend more freely without pushing their player payroll higher, and incurring a larger competitive balance tax for the life of Glasnow’s contract.
Perhaps that helped the Dodgers and Glasnow work through their extension talks faster than any video Ohtani sent his new teammate.
Still, Ohtani had no problem making his pitch. Dodgers general manager Brandon Gomes said Ohtani was on board with the idea of a recruitment video.
“I’ll happily send him something to make him feel good about the organization,” was Ohtani’s reaction, according to Gomes.
Photo Credit: Nathan Ray Seebeck-USA TODAY Sports
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