Great Move: The Reds are set to sign Tyler Glasnow; Trade Process Revealed

The starting pitcher market is beginning to heat up. This week, Aaron Nola, Lance Lynn, and Kyle Gibson have all inked new deals. But there are several top-of-the-rotation pitchers remaining in free agency.

Eduardo Rodriguez, Sonny Gray, and Blake Snell are the cream of the crop when it comes to free agent pitchers. A step down from those three would be Jordan Montgomery, Seth Lugo, and Marcus Stroman.

However, for the Cincinnati Reds, who are famously frugal when it comes to free agency, a trade may be the best route to get a frontline starter. Tyler Glasnow of the Tampa Bay Rays is one pitcher that is rumored to be available. Could the Reds and Rays reach an agreement?

Tyler Glasnow of the Rays is one of the biggest trade candidates this summer. He’ll make $25 million in his final season before free agency. That would be the highest one-year compensation in team history. The Rays committed to that number not long ago, when they signed the 6’8″ hurler to a contract extension until August 2022. Even with a number of following injuries to their rotation, Tampa Bay may be able to move Glasnow in order to bring in cheaper quality.

Mark Feinsand of MLB.com tweeted Thursday evening that two opposing officials anticipate the Rays will sign Glasnow this offseason. In an appearance on Foul Territory (X link), Ken Rosenthal of The Athletic had a similar sentiment. Rosenthal believes Glasnow is the most likely of the top starting pitchers usually cited as trade candidates, which also includes Corbin Burnes, Dylan Cease, and Shane Bieber.

If the Rays do make a trade this winter, it must be to a team with legitimate postseason ambitions in 2024. Teams like the Nationals or Rockies have little motive to sign a star pitcher with one year left on his contract. An acquiring team would have to be willing to accept a salary of $25MM. It’s difficult to imagine Tampa Bay executing a move of this size within the division.

This narrows things down a little, but there are still a lot of potential suitors. Let’s look at some possibilities (listed alphabetically). Roster Resource provided all salary estimations.

Cincinnati’s position is comparable to that of Arizona. The Reds aren’t big spenders, but they could be in position to pay a high one-year deal for a starting pitcher. They’re expected to make $52 million next season, which is $30 million less than their Opening Day total this year. The Reds’ young position player corps propelled them to the brink of postseason contention. The next step is to add a starter to a staff that already includes Nick Lodolo, Hunter Greene, Graham Ashcraft, and Andrew Abbott.

Tyler Glasnow is the superstar Reds fans have been waiting for.

Let us get this out of the way first. If the Cincinnati Reds make a trade for Tyler Glasnow, he will immediately be promoted to the top of the rotation. We’re no longer talking about mid-tier starters like Nick Martinez and Michael Wacha; Glasnow is a true ace.

The term “ace” is thrown around quite casually at times, and is perhaps more descriptive of a pitcher’s standing within his own team than a true ace. But make no mistake: Glasnow would be an ace in every way.