Dodgers to Get Tyler Glasnow & Manuel Margot From Rays: What to Make of Trade

The Dodgers already added one big name this offseason — and now it looks like Los Angeles got another in Tyler Glasnow. Tyler Glasnow and Manuel Margot are reportedly headed to the Dodgers via trade, in a move that’s poised to set two young players to the Rays. Here’s a closer look at Glasnow and the other pieces involved in this deal.

The Dodgers’ Return

SP Tyler Glasnow (3.53 ERA, 162 K over 120 IP)
OF Manuel Margot (.264/.310/.376, 4 HR and 26 XBH over 336 PA)

Tyler Glasnow proved to be one of the game’s most overpowering pitchers from 2019-21 when the new Dodger struck out 290 over 206 innings. The only thing that stopped him was Tommy John in 2021, which kept him out for virtually all of 2022.

Glasnow got a late start in 2023 thanks to a left oblique strain but was dominant upon his return. The 29-year-old stepped up to become the ace of the Rays’ rotation after injuries to Shane McClanahan and Jeffrey Springs, as he struck out 162 and walked 37 over 120 frames last year.

Tyler Glasnow whiff map 2023 — This map indicates the amount of whiffs that Glasnow can get down with both his slider and curve. His breaking balls move, and he can also blow away hitters with a plus fastball.

The tall right-hander— who was arguably one of the top trade targets entering the winter — is one of the best strikeout pitchers in the game. Glasnow boasts a very hard fastball that sits in the upper-90s in velocity. On top of his plus heater — one he pounds up and has good enough vertical break (16.8”) — Glasnow can trip hitters sitting on the fastball with his hard slider and curve.

His curve, in particular, is a devastating pitch. It’s a hard one that sits in the 83-85 MPH range that just drops down. Given the velocity and movement, it’s not hard to see why it had a Whiff% of 51.6% this past year.

The other piece going to the Dodgers is Manuel Margot. Margot isn’t a plus hitter at the plate. However, he does offer average contact skills, as well as plus speed and fielding ability. Margot has experience in all three outfield positions.

It should be noted that as of 8 PM ET on December 14, the trade is not done. The reason is that it is contingent on Glasnow signing an extension with the Dodgers. ESPN reported on the 14th that both parties hope it will be done by December 15.

The Rays’ Return

OF Jonny Deluca (.262/.311/.429, 2 HR and 3 XBH over 45 PA)
SP Ryan Pepiot (2.14 ERA, 38 K over 42 IP)

The big prize for the Rays is Ryan Pepiot, a former standout at Butler University who rolled through the Minors thanks to a dominant changeup, as well as a very good four-seamer and slider.

Ryan Pepiot whiff map 2023 — Notice the amount of whiffs he got to the left, which would be to his arm side. That’s thanks to his changeup, which netted the seventh-most whiffs (43) between August 19 and October 1.

Pepiot doesn’t offer the same velocity as Glasnow, as the 26-year-old tops out in the mid-90s. But like Glasnow, Pepiot was well above-average in extension as rated by Statcast.

He can get outs with all three pitches, but the big weapon in Pepiot’s arsenal is a change with impressive downward movement and arm-side run. It’s a pitch that not only nets whiffs but also weak contact because the movement makes it so tough to barrel up.

The other piece in this deal is outfielder Jonny Deluca.

Tampa’s got outfield depth between Randy Arozarena, Josh Lowe, Jose Siri, and Luke Raley. However, the 25-year-old Deluca should line up as a cheaper platoon option for the Rays. Not to mention, Deluca should also offer more pop than Margot.

Deluca hit 19 home runs between Double-A, Triple-A, and the Majors last season. The former Oregon product hit 25 a year earlier between High-A and Double-A.

Analysis

Even though the Dodgers came away with the top free agent prize for Shohei Ohtani earlier in December, Los Angeles still had holes to fill. Arguably the biggest one was a starter to beef up their rotation in 2024.

The Dodgers accomplish that by getting Tyler Glasnow, a California native who played high school ball in Santa Clarita and will stick around beyond 2024 so long as an extension is signed.

Los Angeles can now enter 2024 with a formidable 1-2 punch at the top of the rotation with Glasnow and presumably the returning Walker Buehler, with Bobby Miller, Emmet Sheehan, Michael Grove, and Gavin Stone as back-end options. Clayton Kershaw (free agent) and Dustin May (flexor tendon) could be options later on in 2024, given the former re-signs.

However, the Dodgers did give up a very good young starter in Pepiot, who showed a lot of flash in his brief time in the Majors to this point. Between his swing-and-miss stuff and the fact that he’s controllable for the next five seasons, Pepiot fits the Rays’ organizational mantra.

Also, the Rays do clear salary with the Tyler Glasnow/Manuel Margot trade. Glasnow’s $25MM comes off the books, as does Margot’s $10MM base salary and $8MM luxury tax hit.