Projecting the Los Angeles Dodgers’ Starting Rotation Following the Tyler Glasnow Trade

The Los Angeles Dodgers kept their foot on the gas this week, following up their Shohei Ohtani signing with a trade for Tampa Bay Rays pitcher Tyler Glasnow.

As part of the deal, Glasnow signed a $135 million extension to keep him in Los Angeles for the next five years.

Fastball already broke down what the Dodgers' lineup and future rotation would look like after they signed Ohtani, but the arrival of Glasnow brings a major shakeup to the roster. Manuel Margot coming to Los Angeles as part of the deal is a plus as well, but he isn't guaranteed a starting spot with Chris Taylor, Jason Heyward and James Outman already in the outfield.

As for the starting rotation, swapping rookie Ryan Pepiot out for a high-level veteran in Glasnow is sure to change the pitching staff's dynamic.

These are the five pitchers who are currently poised to make up the Dodgers’ starting rotation next spring:

1. Tyler Glasnow, RHP
2. Walker Buehler, RHP
3. Bobby Miller, RHP
4. Emmet Sheehan, RHP
5. Ryan Yarbrough, LHP

Injuries have prevented Glasnow from ever making an All-Star Game, but he still posted a 3.20 ERA and 1.025 WHIP across his six seasons in Tampa Bay. Buehler, on the other hand, has made two All-Star appearances and owns a 3.02 ERA and 1.036 WHIP since 2017.

Buehler did not pitch at all in 2023, however, after undergoing Tommy John surgery in August 2022. He is expected to be back in time for the start of 2024.

Miller, 24, went 11-4 with a 3.76 ERA, 1.102 WHIP and 2.1 WAR in 22 starts as a rookie this year. Sheehan, who turned 24 last month, went 4-1 with a 5.23 ERA in his 11 starts in 2023.

Yarbrough served as a spot starter after the Dodgers got him from the Kansas City Royals and the MLB Trade Deadline. The longtime Rays hurler went 4-2 with a 4.89 ERA after arriving in Los Angeles.

Los Angeles might not be done making moves, either.

For one, the team made a strong pitch to Japanese free agent Yoshinobu Yamamoto on Tuesday. It might take a $300 million contract to bring him in, which would significantly boost the Dodgers’ already-inflated payroll, but he is an option.

Longtime ace Clayton Kershaw is still on the open market as well.

Kershaw has been going year-to-year for a while now, and he turns 36 in March. Even though he went 13-5 with a 2.46 ERA in 2023, Kershaw could decide to retire or potentially end his career elsewhere.

There’s also Dustin May, who will likely miss the first few months of next season due to elbow surgery he underwent in July. Tony Gonsolin and Ohtani had elbow surgeries of their own in August and September, respectively, which will keep them off the mound until 2025.

When Ohtani and Gonsolin return, Buehler will be a free agent, but Miller, Sheehan, May and Glasnow will all still be under contract.

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