Friday, December 15, 2023
Copyrighted by Sarah Morris, 2023
Friday, the Los Angeles Dodgers traded Ryan Pepiot and Johnny DeLuca to the Tampa Bay Rays for Tyler Glasnow and Manny Margot. Also, the Dodgers signed Glasnow to a five-year $135 million extension, including $25 million in 2024. When the offseason began, the Dodgers needed to prioritize obtaining veteran starting pitchers.
While Pepoit is a promising young starter, the Dodgers want and need veteran starters. The projected starting rotation has Bobby Miller and Emmet Sheehan, both young starters. Pepiot has an outstanding changeup but doesn’t have a blazing fastball and a sharp-breaking ball. The Dodgers have more talented pitchers in AAA.
DeLuca is a rookie right-handed outfielder, and he can be a star. The Dodgers want proven talent in the outfield while they have young
James Outman in center.
Margot is a veteran right-handed outfielder. Last season, he batted .264 with 4 home runs and 38 RBI. He is a decent outfielder who figures to play left field.
The Dodgers wanted Glasnow, whose pitches are unhittable. The problem with the South Californian is keeping him healthy, but he pitched a career-high 125 innings in 2023. In 2018, Glasnow underwent Tommy John surgery. With the Dodger superior medical staff, Glasnow should be on the field more than with the Rays.
The Dodgers need another veteran starter and a better left fielder than Margot.
