Why Tyler Glasnow really, really wants to stay with Rays

The most likely scenario is for the Rays to trade Tyler Glasnow.

He is due to make a team-record $25 million next season, having signed an extension that delayed free agency a year. Injuries and inconsistency have been ongoing issues, with a Tommy John surgery on his chart. And he’s on the other side of 30, having yet to throw more than 120 innings in a big-league season.

Glasnow is well aware of the possibility, and that it could happen any time.

But in a candid interview with Foul Territory, Glasnow was asked about going into the final year of his contract with the Rays and made clear how much he relishes being with them, then raised the idea of finding a way to stick around.

“I love the Rays so much,” Glasnow told hosts Scott Braun, Erik Kratz and A.J. Pierzynski, raving about how the Rays do things with a “no fluff” approach in prioritizing winning, the quality of people on the team and staff (starting with baseball operations president Erik Neander and manager Kevin Cash), and the “best ever” culture and vibe in the clubhouse.

“So to get back to your original question after that rant, I’m very sad,” Glasnow said. “But I’m also excited, like I want to go out on a high note. I don’t know what’s going to happen in the future. I don’t know if I’m going to talk to them, try to stay longer. I don’t know if I’m going to get traded tomorrow.

“But I do know that I would like to stay there. That is like my No. 1 place I want to be because it’s like the most amazing atmosphere to play baseball.”