SF Giants: Pros and cons of making Tyler Glasnow a top pitching target this offseason

SF Giants: Pros and cons of making Tyler Glasnow a top pitching target this offseason

What Advantages does a Glasnow Trade Offer?

There is one, key, advantage to trading for Glasnow. And it is one that the SF Giants' front office is well aware of. Team president of baseball operations Farhan Zaidi has been wary of signing a starting pitcher to a mega-contract during his tenure in San Fransisco.

While he has offered near-decade-long deals to hitters like Aaron Judge and Carlos Correa, it would be out of character for this front office to allocate such a massive portion of their money to a pitcher.

This track record leaves the notion of signing either Snell or Yamamoto as a potential long shot. It also makes targeting a shorter-term option like Woodruff all the more realistic.

However, what if there were a way to maintain the short-term financial commitment of a player like Woodruff, without having to wait a full season to receive an on-field boost? Enter Tyler Glasnow!

The Rays' ace is slated to receive a massive pay bump, to the tune of $25 million in 2024. While this is well deserved for a player of his caliber, it is seemingly too much for the small-market Rays to pay. However, it would be well within the budget of a major market club like the Giants.

While it would require the club to sacrifice trade chips, acquiring Glasnow would give the franchise a fringe Cy Young contender to pair alongside current ace Logan Webb. These two combined would instantly become one of the most dangerous pitching tandems in baseball. It would also give the club the firepower, especially if they are indeed able to add a difference-making bat like Shohei Ohtani, Cody Bellinger, or even Matt Chapman, to seriously compete in the loaded NL West.

Glasnow offers San Fransisco the chance to add an elite pitcher without sacrificing their long-term financial flexibility. It seems to be a clear win-win.