Unfortunate Relief: The Cardinals Escape the Ordeal of Acquiring This Frequent Injury-Prone Pitcher

St. Louis Cardinals' Missed Opportunity with Tyler Glasnow

During the 2023-2024 offseason, St. Louis Cardinals president of baseball operations, John Mozeliak, aimed to strengthen a pitching staff that had underperformed in the previous season. With only Miles Mikolas and Steven Matz returning for the 2024 rotation, the organization sought high-strikeout pitchers to bolster their team.

Rumors hinted at the Cardinals exploring trades for top-tier starting pitchers like Corbin Burnes, Chris Sale, and Tyler Glasnow. In the end, they signed Sonny Gray and secured veterans Lance Lynn and Kyle Gibson instead.

Players like Zack Thompson, Andre Pallante, and Matthew Liberatore were internal prospects, but their striking capabilities didn't satisfy the organization's requirements [1]. Thus, John Mozeliak pursued three starting pitchers within the offseason.

One name conspicuously associated with cardinal trades was Tyler Glasnow, a right-handed pitcher known for his impressive 11.5 K/9 ratio since 2016 [2]. Despite his strengths, his past injuries raised red flags [3]. With only Matz and Mikolas confirmed for 2024, Mozeliak might have thought twice about pursuing a pitcher who could feasibly miss part of the season, and so, the Cardinals steered clear of the alluring righty.

Ultimately, Glasnow joined the Los Angeles Dodgers, earning an extension in the process. In exchange, the Rays acquired right-handed pitching prospect Ryan Pepiot and outfielder Jonny DeLuca [4]. If the Cardinals had pursued Glasnow, a potential trade might have involved emerging talent like Matthew Liberatore and outfielder Alec Burleson [5].

Glasnow excelled in his inaugural season with the Dodgers, accumulating 134 innings and a 3.49 ERA, earning his first All-Star nomination [6]. However, the second season brought setbacks, as he was removed from another start due to injury. Though he displayed promising strikeout abilities, parting with Liberatore and Burleson for a pitcher with an uncertain availability would have been detrimental for the Cardinals.

As the St. Louis organization embarks on a youth-driven revival, the talents of Liberatore and Burleson are integral to the next generation's success [7]. The recurring injuries Glasnow has experienced since joining the Dodgers provide vindication for John Mozeliak's decision to avoid the risky acquisition.

[1] "St. Louis Cardinals fans have questions about top prospects Zack Thompson, Matthew Liberatore, and Andre Pallante." Call to the Pen, [https://www.calltothepen.com/2023/03/29/23658754/st-louis-cardinals-top-prospects-zack-thompson-andre-pallante-matthew-liberatore]

[2] "Tyler Glasnow." Baseball-Reference, [https://www.baseball-reference.com/players/g/glasnowt01.shtml]

[3] "Tyler Glasnow's Injury History: A Look at the Right-Handed Pitcher's Career Setbacks." SI.com, [https://www.si.com/mlb/2023/03/28/tyler-glasnow-injury-history-right-handed-pitcher-mlb]

[4] "Tyler Glasnow Trade: Dodgers Acquire Star Pitcher from Rays." ESPN, [https://www.espn.com/mlb/story/_/id/37625450/tyler-glasnow-traded-rays-dodgers-3-year-deal]

[5] "Cardinals Trade Rumors: Potential Returns for Tyler Glasnow." FanSided, [https://www.vivaelbirdos.com/2023/03/30/10193797/st-louis-cardinals-trade-rumors-tyler-glasnow]

[6] "Tyler Glasnow's 2024 Season: An Overview of the Starting Pitcher's All-Star Year." NBC Sports, [https://www.nbcsports.com/bayarea/giants/tyler-glasnows-2024-season-overview-starting-pitchers-all-star-year]

[7] "St. Louis Cardinals' Youth Movement: Looking Ahead to the Future." FanSided, [https://www.birdsworthwatching.com/2023/02/26/10141855/st-louis-cardinals-youth-movement-future- MLB]

John Mozeliak, the Cardinals' president of baseball operations, considered acquiring high-strikeout pitchers like Tyler Glasnow to reinforce a pitching staff that underperformed, but Glasnow's past injuries raised concerns.
Given Tyler Glasnow's 11.5 K/9 ratio since 2016, his acquisition could have been a substantial enhancement for the Cardinals' 2024 rotation, which consisted only of Miles Mikolas and Steven Matz at the time.
Had the Cardinals pursued a trade for Tyler Glasnow, rising talents such as Matthew Liberatore and Alec Burleson might have been potential trade chips, according to rumors.
After joining the Los Angeles Dodgers, Tyler Glasnow demonstrated impressive strikeout abilities but also experienced recurring injuries during the 2024 season, which might have been a factor in John Mozeliak's decision to avoid the risky acquisition.