One of the most intriguing names on the trade block now is Rays ace Tyler Glasnow. He’s set to enter the final year of his contract and is owed $25 million, which would be the most money ever paid to a player in Tampa Bay history. Several reports have suggested he will be moved this winter. Some even suggest that there is a 99% chance he is playing elsewhere next season.
There is a “99.99% chance” the #Rays trade SP Tyler Glasnow this offseason, per @ByRobertMurray via The Baseball Insiders livestream on YouTube pic.twitter.com/5dm8vhecwC
— MLB Deadline News (@MLBDeadlineNews) November 20, 2023
The Braves have already been linked to Dylan Cease. He would be a dream, a perennial Cy Young candidate with multiple years of control. However, Cease is going to cost an arm and a leg in a trade, and there are several teams interested in his services. Acquiring him is much easier said than done.
A natural pivot would be to Tyler Glasnow. He may only have one more year of control and there are some injury concerns, but he won’t cost as much as Cease in terms of prospects and the upside is just as great.
When healthy, Glasnow has been a machine on the mound. Since 2019, he boasts a 3.03 ERA and 2.89 FIP. The only issue is he’s only made 60 starts over that stretch. The most starts Tyler Glasnow has ever made in a season is 21, which was this year, and he’s only eclipsed 100 innings twice, never pitching more than 120. For a club like the Braves that has dealt with so many injuries to their pitching staff in recent years, that may be too much to overlook.
But a recent report suggests the Rays are looking to acquire MLB ready talent in return for Tyler Glasnow, and the Braves have plenty of options to offer.
According to a source, the Reds were pursuing Sonny Gray and were close before he went to the Cardinals on a reported 3-year, $75 million deal.
Reds also have interest in Tyler Glasnow of the Rays. He's owed $25M in '24. TB is not wanting to rebuild and seeks MLB-ready starter.
— Mark Sheldon (@m_sheldon) November 27, 2023
The Rays are one of the best organizations in baseball at developing talent. Unfortunately, they can’t afford to pay anybody so this is what they do.
A pitcher like Bryce Elder could interest the Rays. He’s already been named an All-Star, isn’t a free agent until 2029, and Tampa Bay’s staff could surely get the most out of his stuff. AJ Smith-Shawver or Hurston Waldrep would likely be enough to get a deal done. Although, I’m not sure the Braves would part ways with either for one year of Tyler Glasnow.
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Photographer: Cliff Welch/Icon Sportswire
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