The Los Angeles Dodgers don’t usually “sell” pitching. They hoard it, polish it, and unleash it in October.
That’s why the latest Winter Meetings ripple feels like an offseason stunner: the Dodgers have discussed Tyler Glasnow in trade talks and “would not be against dealing him,” according to ESPN reporting that the New York Post highlighted on Saturday.
On its face, it sounds backwards. Glasnow still pitches like a frontline weapon when he’s healthy. But the Dodgers don’t make moves based on vibes. They make them based on leverage—roster leverage, payroll leverage, and, most importantly right now, trade leverage.
And if the Dodgers truly believe they can land Detroit Tigers ace Tarik Skubal, the idea of dangling Glasnow starts to look less like a shock and more like a strategy.
Why the Dodgers Would Move a Big Arm
Glasnow isn’t some fringe piece. He’s a recognizable name with playoff value and the kind of stuff that makes teams dream on a “change of scenery” health reset. But the Dodgers also see the risk baked into the résumé. The New York Post noted that Glasnow has appeared in just 40 games over the last two regular seasons for Los Angeles, totaling 224 1/3 innings with a 3.37 ERA—strong production, limited availability.
That’s the tightrope with Glasnow: when he takes the ball consistently, he can dominate anyone; when his arm barks, the whole plan shifts.
The Dodgers also have the luxury of redundancy—at least on paper. Los Angeles already sits on a rotation mix that includes Blake Snell, Yoshinobu Yamamoto, Roki Sasaki, Shohei Ohtani, and Glasnow.
That group looks terrifying in a graphic and fragile in real life. Still, the depth gives the Dodgers something most contenders lack: the ability to trade a “good” pitcher to chase a “great” one.
Money plays a role, too. The Post reported Glasnow will make $65 million over the next two seasons ($32.5 million annually), with an option structure for 2028.
If the Dodgers want to pounce on another monster move—either in a trade or later in the offseason—moving Glasnow clears space without requiring them to gut the farm system just to shed salary.
That’s the Dodgers’ favorite kind of transaction: one that frees payroll and upgrades impact.
How Glasnow Becomes the Headliner for a Skubal Offer
Here’s where the rumor mill gets dangerous for the rest of baseball.
ESPN’s Jorge Castillo wrote during Winter Meetings coverage that he heard a Skubal trade is “likely,” and he noted Detroit president of baseball operations Scott Harris hasn’t shut the speculation down, even referencing “no untouchables.”
If Detroit really believes it can’t keep Skubal long-term, then every contender with prospect depth has reason to call. The Dodgers sit at the front of that line because they can offer both premium prospects and immediate big-league pieces.
That’s where Glasnow fits.
For Detroit, the appeal of a Glasnow-centered package isn’t perfect, but it’s real. If the Tigers trade Skubal, they still need to sell fans on a plan that doesn’t look like waving a white flag. Bringing back an established major-league starter gives them a rotation bridge while they cash in prospect value. And because Glasnow carries durability questions, the Dodgers would still need to sweeten the deal with high-end talent—precisely what the Tigers would demand for a generational lefty.
In other words, Glasnow doesn’t replace Skubal in Detroit’s eyes. He helps Detroit avoid a complete vacuum while the system replenishes.
The Dodgers also gain something crucial if they go this route: they don’t have to trade only prospects to get Skubal. They can deal a pitcher with name value, clear payroll, and still have the prospect capital to make Detroit listen.
Nothing guarantees Los Angeles lands Skubal. But once the Dodgers start floating a pitcher like Glasnow, they’re telling the sport something loud:
They’re not done. They’re shopping for the next superteam upgrade. And they’re willing to trade a star to get an even bigger one.
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