Rumored Cubs trade target from last winter suddenly enveloped in late-season drama

For much of the offseason, trade rumors connected the Chicago Cubs to right-hander Tyler Glasnow. Given the Tampa Bay Rays' history of trading high-salary players to maximize prospect return, the writing was on the wall. Unfortunately, the high-dollar Los Angeles Dodgers swooped in, traded for him and promptly extended him on a five-year, $136 million deal.

He rewarded their faith with a career-high 134 innings of work in 2024, but his season was cut short after a sprained right elbow ended his 2024 campaign recently. It's a devastating blow to the Dodgers, who have battled a carousel of pitching injuries all season long, and it's gone from bad to worse now with Glasnow cleaning out his locker and leaving the team.

Not only did Glasnow leave the team, but Los Angeles manager Dave Roberts didn't even know where he went. One would assume that if it were to see specialists or undergo some sort of treatment, the Dodgers would be in the know. But, instead, with the team fending off multiple rivals in the standings down the stretch, one of their highest-paid players is nowhere to be found.

It's not a great look for a team that spends dollars every winter like it's Monopoly money - or for a guy who is in his first season under the microscope of major market media. At the very least, it's an unnecessary off-field distraction for the club, which is something the Dodgers definitely don't need as they look to turn an offseason of unprecedented spending into a World Series title.

For the Cubs, it's a cautionary tale heading into this winter when the team is, again, expected to be active in the market for starting pitching. Glasnow felt like a perfect fit a little over a year ago but now the Dodgers' addition looks far less picturesque than he did a few months back.