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.

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

What are the Downsides to a Glasnow Trade?

While Glasnow is healthy and ready for Opening Day 2024, he unfortunately carries an injury history of his own. When he is healthy, he is one of the game's best pitchers. However, his availability is not always sure. In fact, Glasnow's 120 innings pitched in 2023 was his largest workload across eight seasons in the majors.

Additionally, Glasnow is entering the last year of his contract. This means that San Fransisco could be sacrificing on-field assets for a one-year rental. Perhaps the Rays' star thrives in the Bay Area and re-signs with the club. Considering the team's ability to develop pitching and their pitcher-friendly ballpark, this is a distinct possibility.

However, this places the franchise right back in the tension of offering a long-term contract to a historically brittle ace.

So, Where should Glasnow Rank on the SF Giants List of Pitching Targets?

I say that the Giants should put the Rays' star at the very top of their list of ace-level targets. While I would be thrilled to land either Snell or Yamamoto, Zaidi's aversion to playing massive deals to oft-injured pitchers is wise.

I have previously advocated for a Woodruff signing. And I stand by this take. However, if the club has a chance to land a healthy ace in his place (or perhaps to add both and deploy Glasnow in 2024 and Woodruff in 2025), they must consider taking it.

At the end of the day, everything comes down to the price point. If Tampa Bay insists on several high-end prospects or players, San Fransisco would be wise to politely decline. Especially considering the fact that Glasnow is a one-year rental.

However, if the price tag is anywhere near reasonable (and Tampa's desire to get his contract off the books should open this possibility), Glasnow appears to be the perfect, short-term, target for the SF Giants. Here's hoping they are able to land him!