This offseason, it is no secret that the Atlanta Braves are in the market to add to their pitching rotation, and there are many directions they could go this winter, whether it be via trade or a free agent signing.
For starters, starting pitching is starting to become a glaring issue for the Braves this offseason. Max Fried is a free agent after 2024, Charlie Morton may call it quits after next season, and Kyle Wright is not expected to pitch again until 2025 after undergoing shoulder surgery. With all of this in mind, it is imperative that the Braves pounce on a starting pitcher sooner rather than later.
One intriguing option is Rays ace Tyler Glasnow who, according to MLB Insider Robert Murray, could be a potential fit for Atlanta.
Coming off of 2023, he started 21 games for the Rays while posting a 10-7 record with a 3.53 ERA and 162 strikeouts through 120 innings while only walking 37 batters. His 12.2 K/9 would put Glasnow ahead of every other pitcher currently on the Braves' roster except Spencer Strider.
Tyler Glasnow's 12th, 13th and 14th Ks.
— Rob Friedman (@PitchingNinja) September 7, 2023
Thru 6. 😳
'Now I am become Death, the destroyer of worlds.' pic.twitter.com/OFU2sO6svF
Why would the Rays move their ace, however? Well, his salary jumps to $25 million next year. Being in the final year of his contract, there are talks that the Rays may offload Glasnow's salary before he becomes a free agent after 2024, and the Braves have often been named an ideal landing spot for him.
What are the concerns for trading for Glasnow though? The biggest concern would be his injury history. 2023 was by far the healthiest he has been in a while. He spent much time on the injured list in 2019 and 2021, which ultimately resulted in him undertaking Tommy John surgery in 2021, only appearing in 6.2 innings in 2022. Even this previous season, he had issues with his oblique early on and later in the year with his back
Since Glasnow is in a contract year, the Braves aren't necessarily locked down to him long-term and a rotation of Strider, Fried, and Glasnow is definitely an upgrade. However, the Braves would not only have to hope that Glasnow will be relatively healthy for 2024 but also hope that he keeps his production up for a possible playoff run during the 2024 campaign.
Trading for Glasnow kind of sounds like a risky but rewarding move, however, his skill set would bring immediate upgrades to the starting rotation that the Braves are looking for. His type of power pitching is the stuff that plays in October, and improving in October is what AA is trying to build upon this offseason.