According to recent trade rumors, Rays ace Tyler Glasnow is expected to be moved by the Rays this offseason.
It's "widely expected" that the Rays will move Tyler Glasnow this offseason, per @JeffPassan pic.twitter.com/BaV8xwXPwI
— Talkin’ Baseball (@TalkinBaseball_) November 14, 2023
This is one of the least surprising developments of the early offseason. Glasnow signed a two-year, $30.5 million contract with Tampa Bay last year, but $25 million of that is owed this season. The Rays were always unlikely to pay that, even if it’s far from a bad number for a pitcher as talented as Glasnow.
This continues a series where I put together hypothetical trade packages for names reportedly on the market that could make some sense for the Braves. If you missed any previous parts to this series, follow the links below:
- Trade packages for Corbin Burnes and Freddy Peralta
- Trade packages for Christian Yelich, Willy Adames, and Devin Williams
Tyler Glasnow Hypothetical Trade
Braves Receive: Tyler Glasnow
Rays Receive: J.R. Ritchie, Spencer Schwellenbach, and Drue Hackenberg
On a one-year, $25 million contract, I highly doubt the Braves would have to include AJ Smith-Shawver or Hurston Waldrep in a potential deal for Tyler Glasnow, especially with his injury history. The Rays might push for it — because they are a very smart organization — but I don’t think Alex Anthopoulos would budge. Tampa Bay’s top priority in this trade is getting rid of Glasnow’s contract and acquiring a couple of young pitchers with some upside that they feel like they can develop into major-league starters, something they are better than any organization at doing.
When Glasnow is healthy, he’s up there with the best pitchers in baseball. Since 2019, he boasts a 3.03 ERA, 2.89 FIP, and 12.5 K/9. The only issue is he has made just 60 starts over that span. The only season he’s ever made more than 20 starts was last year, and he’s never pitched over 120 innings. Handing him a healthy extension right now would be incredibly risky, so this is most likely just a one-year proposition to see if he can pitch a full season, and then whoever trades for him will have to outbid the rest of the league next offseason for his services.
As far as the Rays return, I went with straight pitching prospects because that is what they are the best at developing. All of these arms have upside, but none are close to being everyday major-league pitchers. This one might hurt Braves fans when the Rays turn them into bonafide studs in a few years, but I think it’s a risk worth taking for the Braves to win in 2024.
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Photographer: Cliff Welch/Icon Sportswire
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