MLB Network Analysts Think Dodgers Are Taking Big Risk on Tyler Glasnow's Health
Generally speaking, those across baseball view Tyler Glasnow as a very talented player.
There's always one caveat attached to his name, though: If healthy. The fact of the matter is, Glasnow has only thrown 120 innings pitched in one season -- and that came this past year for the Rays.
A multitude of arm injuries has derailed his career to an extent. After receiving somewhat of a 'new age' Tommy John surgery in 2021, he reportedly feels better than he did before. This includes warming up and pitching without a ton of pain.
Based on the extension L.A. gave him, Glasnow is expected to perform like a front-of-the-rotation arm. On MLB Tonight, former MLB pitcher/three-time All-Star Dan Plesac spoke about Glasnow and his future with the Dodgers.
While effusive in his praise of the Southern California native, he did admit having some apprehension over the deal -- calling it a "bigger risk" than the $700 million the Dodgers will pay Shohei Ohtani.
"I think there’s more risk in this signing than the Ohtani signing. Love the pitcher. When he’s healthy, he’s a difference maker. He’s one of the 10 best starting pitchers when you look at sheer stuff in the game of baseball when he’s healthy. But it’s hard to look at the amount of innings pitched since 2019. It’s hard to say, ‘OK, what are we gonna get?’ ...
"Last year was 120 innings. I think the Dodgers — we’ve cut back expectations on starting pitchers — I think that the Dodgers feel they get 120-150 good quality innings out of him, they’ll think it’s worth the price."
- Former MLB pitcher Dan Plesac on Glasnow
Similarly, long-time ex-MLB executive Dan O'Dowd echoed the sentiments offered by Plesac.
One area of concern O'Dowd brought up generally was the health of starting pitchers within the Dodgers organization.
As detailed by the former General Manager of the Colorado Rockies, the likes of Walker Buehler, Tony Gonsolin, and Dustin May all have endured serious arm injuries.
In O'Dowd's mind, the Dodgers have to come up with some preventative measures to keep Glasnow on the mound.
"If you look at the Dodgers, as great as they have been in so many different areas, the area they haven’t been great in is sustainable starting pitching health. They got to ensure health. It’s the holy grail of our game. But whatever’s going on there, they got to make sure that something in their process is leading to sustainable health. Because at $27 million a year, they need him to take the ball every five days."
- Former Colorado Rockies General Manager Dan O'Dowd on Glasnow
The Dodgers are going for upside over injury risk in this situation. L.A. would not have inked Glasnow to a five-year extension if the worries over his injury history were that substantial.
Even with Glasnow expected to take a starring role, he won't necessarily have to shoulder the load by himself. The likes of Yoshinobu Yamamoto, Walker Buehler, and Bobby Miller will all be in the projected rotation.
Not to mention, the Dodgers aren't done yet with their acquisitions, whether via trade or free agency.
