The Dodgers are poised to put their Shohei Ohtani savings to good use.
The World Series favorites and the Rays are discussing a trade focused around flame-throwing righty Tyler Glasnow, according to multiple reports.
The Athletic’s Ken Rosenthal noted that “changes possible” and “financial exchange likely” in a deal that would send Glasnow and outfielder Manuel Margot to Los Angeles for pitcher Ryan Pepiot and reserve outfielder Jonny DeLuca.
The Tampa Bay Times confirmed that talks were “active” between the two teams.
Glasnow, 30, has shown flashes of being one of the more dominant pitchers in the game, but has been hampered by health issues.
He suffered a partially torn UCL that required Tommy John surgery in 2021 and missed the first two months of last season with an oblique strain.
Despite the injury, the 21 starts Glasnow made last season were the most in any season in his career.
The California native finished 10-7 with a 3.53 ERA, striking out 162 batters in 120 innings.
Glasnow is scheduled to make $25 million next season before hitting free agency.
Margot, 29, is the Rays’ highest-paid position player at $10 million next season, but is more known for his speed and defense.
Pepiot, 26, has been effective in 17 appearances (10 starts) over two seasons with the Dodgers.
DeLuca, 25, hit .262 with two home runs in 42 at-bats last season.
The potential move comes after it was announced the Dodgers would be deferring all but $2 million per year of the 10-year, $700 million deal Ohtani agreed to Saturday.
The move allows the Dodgers to pursue other big-money targets to play alongside Ohtani — and they met with Japanese ace Yoshinobu Yamamato on Monday and reportedly have interest in former Brewers and Padres closer Josh Hader.
“Nobody should be surprised,” Ohtani’s agent, Naz Balelo, told Sports Illustrated. “Everything he does is unique and impeccably well thought-out. Who in their right mind gets to this level and decides he wants to help the team and the city compete above all else and basically says, ‘I don’t need it’?”
“Nobody does that. But there is nobody like him. This is the epitome of thinking about others, of pure intentions. This is who he is, who he always has been. He is coming in not as someone above all others, but as a complementary player to help the team win.”
