After last week’s Ohtani soap opera and record breaking contract, one might have throught that the Dodgers would cool things down. Well, you would have been wrong. The continue to steal headlines as well as add to waht could have been considered an all-star team. We’ll discuss all things Dodgers plus all the other news that happened this week. Let’s jump in!
Dodgers, Rays link up as Dodgers rotation gets stronger
Jeff Passan of ESPN reported that the Dodgers are acquiring right-hander Tyler Glasnow and outfielder Manuel Margot from the Rays for right-hander Ryan Pepiot and outfielder Jonny Deluca. Passan also added that the deal is contingent on Tyler Glasnow, free agent to be after the 2024 season, signing an extension with Los Angeles. The Dodgers have seemingly stolen nearly all of the winter headlines which include the Ohtani deal (and those massive referrals!), sending a contingent of Ohtani, Mookie Betts, and Freddy Freeman to meet free agent right hander Yoshinobu Yamamoto, and now the Glasnow trade. While the trade hasn’t been completed it is expected that Glasnow will put his name on the dotted line.
Glasnow, a Santa Clarita, California native, has serious injury concerns but is coming off a season where he tossed 120 innings, the most as a major leaguer. If he can stay healthy, he has all the makings of a frontline starter and he’ll join Walker Buehler and Bobby Miller as a three-headed monster fronting the Dodgers rotation. This month, he has an ADP of 42.67 as the 12th pitcher off the board, right between Zac Gallen and Aaron Nola. The Rays were regularly allowing him to pitch into the sixth and seventh innings this season, so it safe to expect the Dodgers to do the same. Manuel Margot is an interesting get and he will slide in the short side of the platoon in right field with Jason Heyward, which all but kills his fantasy value.
With the trade of yet another superstar, the Rays acquired to young and intriguing players, with plenty of team control left. Ryan Pepiot, missed most of the 2023 season with an oblique injury but was outstanding once he returned to the Dodgers rotation. The 26-year-old right-hander posted a 2.14 ERA, 0.76 WHIP, and 38/5 K/BB ratio over 42 innings (eight appearances). He breakout season can be contributed to his improved command. He fooled more batters outside the strike zone and his 3.1% walk rate is far and away the best of his career. The Rays, and Dodgers for that matter, have been able to get the most out of…