Dodgers ‘agree deal with Tampa Bay Rays to bring Tyler Glasnow and Manuel Margot to LA, with Ryan Pepiot and Jonny Deluca going the other way’ – as they continue to strengthen World Series chances after historic $700m Shohei Ohtani arrival
The Los Angeles Dodgers have further strengthened their World Series credentials after agreeing to a trade to bring star pitcher Tyler Glasnow and center fielder Manuel Margot to the team, according to reports.
The Dodgers signed Shohei Ohtani to a historic 10-year, $700 million deal earlier this week, but the offseason work is far from over for the team.
According to ESPN's Jeff Passan, a deal has now been struck with the Tampa Bay Rays for Glasnow and Margot to head to LA, while Ryan Pepiot and Jonny Deluca head the other way.
The deal is contingent on Glasnow signing a contract extension with LA, but he is expected to do so in the coming days.
The move was announced just hours after Ohtani donned a Dodger uniform for the first time during a press conference, marking a huge week for the World Series participants.
Tyler Glasnow has been traded to the Los Angeles Dodgers, joining Shohei Ohtani
Manuel Margot is also leaving Tampa Bay for Los Angeles ahead of the 2024 season
Ohtani was presented for the first time as a Los Angeles Dodger on Thursday and retired on the 17
They are also expected to compete for prized free agent Yoshinobu Yamamoto, and earlier this week they met the Japanese ace.
According to various reports, they brought along Ohtani, Mookie Betts and Freddie Freeman in an attempt to convince the 25-year-old to choose them over the likes of the New York Yankees.
Yamamoto is the No. 1 pitcher in the current free agent class as well as the Pacific League MVP in Japan's premier league: Nippon Professional Baseball.
The Dodgers' ability to spend freely even after Ohtani signed a monster deal comes after it was revealed that the two-time star will actually make just $2 million per year for the next decade, with $67 million of his annual salary deferred until after he finishes playing. .
The deal has been rejected by many rivals and fans, some of whom claim it will 'kill' the league and open the door for others to follow suit.