3 reasons why the LA Angels should not trade for Tyler Glasnow, 1 reason they should

4 of 4

The Los Angeles Angels should be doing anything in their power to upgrade the starting rotation. The best case scenario is the team finding a way to convince one of the top free agents to join the Angels. Pitchers like Yoshinobu Yamamoto, Sonny Gray, Jordan Montgomery, and Blake Snell would make this rotation improve exponentially while the Angels wouldn't have to touch their farm system.

The issue with signing a top free agent is that the contract length and amount will be hefty. For a team that's been burnt with so many brutal contracts over the years, it makes sense for the Angels to want to avoid the top of the market.

If the Angels don't want to pursue an ace in free agency, trades could be an option. The problem is, the team doesn't have the prospect capital to be in on some of the best pitchers available. The team, however, does have enough to land a guy like Tyler Glasnow, who the Rays are reportedly shopping heavily.

MLB Trade Rumors links the Angels and 11 other teams to the Rays starting pitcher. As exciting as it would be to land a pitcher of Glasnow's caliber, there are more reasons to say they should pass.

LA Angels should not trade for Tyler Glasnow because of his injury history

The biggest reason the Angels (and any other team) would have any reservations of trading for a pitcher as good as Tyler Glasnow is his injury history. It's extensive, and absolutely cause for concern.

The right-hander set career bests this past season in starts (21) and innings pitched (120). Glasnow has been in the league for parts of eight seasons now, and this wasn't just the first time he made over 20 starts in a season, it was the first time he made over 15.

Injuries have absolutely decimated the Angels in recent years, including this past season. Only two players from the 2023 Opening Day roster lasted the entire year. Everyone else was either on the IL, traded, or sent down. This team that already has glaring injury concerns taking a big swing on a pitcher that you pretty much know will miss at least a bit of time is a risk probably not worth taking.

LA Angels should not trade for Tyler Glasnow because he's on an expiring contract

Glasnow is entering the final year of team control with the Rays. He's set to make $25 million this season before hitting unrestricted free agency at the end of the 2024 season.

The Angels are a team trying to compete, but realistically speaking, they've got minimal to no shot at being a playoff team in 2024. Sure, they've got some nice young pieces to maybe help get them there in the future, but this is a team that won 73 games last season and could very well lose Shohei Ohtani.

Making a trade for Glasnow, a pitcher with only one year he'd be guaranteed to be with the club, means they'd be practically postseason or bust. This Angels team is not just Tyler Glasnow away from making it to the playoffs.

The Angels could still make the trade and potentially even extend him the qualifying offer if he pitches well enough so they wouldn't lose him for nothing, but again, it'd be quite risky to make this kind of move for a pitcher with one year on his deal for a team with just a puncher's chance at truly being competitive. In an ideal world, the Angels would pursue an arm with more team control.

LA Angels should not trade for Tyler Glasnow because he'd cost more prospect capital than the team can afford to give up

The Angels are a team that does have a somewhat realistic chance at executing a Glasnow trade because of his injury history and the fact that he has one year remaining on his deal at a lot of money. While Glasnow will certainly be cheaper than controllable arms like Dylan Cease or Logan Gilbert, he still wouldn't come cheap.

When healthy, Glasnow is a frontline starter. Any team looking to acquire him is willing to take the gamble that he's going to stay healthy, and is fine paying the $25 million. Because of the somewhat diminished cost on the surface, there will be plenty of suitors. More suitors mean eventually a higher price will be paid.

The Angels traded a bevy of prospects last season including their top two in Edgar Quero and Ky Bush for rentals. I'm not saying a Glasnow trade would involve them trading prospects like Nolan Schanuel or Nelson Rada, but he'd certainly fetch one of the Angels' high-end prospects at a minimum.

The Angels will have to outbid teams that miss out on the big free agents, and the teams that are eager to win in 2024. For them to do that with the weak system they've got, that'd require giving up higher-ranked players than other teams might have to.

LA Angels should trade for Tyler Glasnow to give themselves a legitimate ace

There are plenty of concerns that come with acquiring Tyler Glasnow. Lack of durability is obviously at the top of the list. His expiring contract isn't ideal either. The reason the Angels should do this is because they'd be acquiring a legitimate ace. It's a risk for sure, but that risk could very well pay off.

This past season Glasnow posted a 3.53 ERA in 21 starts and 120 innings pitched. He fanned 162 batters in those innings compared to just 37 walks. His 2.91 FIP was among the best in the American League, and his 1.083 WHIP was quite impressive as well.

Glasnow is armed with a fastball that can hit the upper 90's consistently, and one of the best curveballs in the game. Opponents hit just .095 with a .112 xBA against his curveball this past season, whiffing 51.6% of the time they swung at it. For a pitch he threw 21.3% of the time, that's awfully impressive.

The talent is undeniable. The Angels acquiring Glasnow gives them a legitimate ace to put at the front of their rotation. A staff of Glasnow, Patrick Sandoval, Reid Detmers, Griffin Canning, and Tyler Anderson could definitely be solid if things go right. It's a lot of risk, but the reward is there too.

manual

Home / LA Angels News