The Tampa Bay Rays are expected to trade right-hander Tyler Glasnow before the 2024 season, according to Jeff Passan of ESPN.
Glasnow, now 30 years old, is set to make $25 million this year before becoming a free agent after the season. Marc Topkin of The Tampa Bay Times previously reported that the Rays were willing to go into 2024 with a team-record payroll, one that could reach $120 million. It was still noted that the Rays are more likely to trade at least a few of their higher-paid players, which instantly points all eyes toward Glasnow.
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The right-hander has had an eventful career, once a top prospect with the Pittsburgh Pirates before underperforming and being traded to the Rays in the Chris Archer deal. He’s since found much more success with the Rays, though his career has still been hampered by injuries. He had Tommy John surgery in 2021, and came back in time for a strong 2023 season — but one that was still blockaded by an oblique injury.
Glasnow ended up making 21 starts in the most recent campaign, posting a 3.53 ERA over 120 innings. He put up strong peripherals with a 12.2 K/9 and 2.8 BB/9, and owns an 11.5 K/9 for his career. His control, which was an issue early in his career, has improved significantly since coming over to the Rays.
Trading Glasnow, of course, brings the New York Mets into the conversation. The Mets are in serious need of starting pitchers, with free agent Yoshinobu Yamamoto highest on their radar — but with a Glasnow trade looking more likely, one has to imagine they’d at least entertain the idea of a deal for him. The Mets’ rotation depth gets thin very quickly after Kodai Senga and an aging but still effective José Quintana, so the Mets are going to have to find help in that department if they want to be competitive in 2024. Acquiring Glasnow could be a solid step in the right direction for this depleted Mets club.
