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Fri. Dec 27th, 2024
Blake Snell
Blake Snell

According to ESPN, free-agent left-handed pitcher Blake Snell has signed a five-year, $182 million contract with the Los Angeles Dodgers. This deal, which is still pending a physical, includes a $52 million signing bonus and some deferred payments, but no opt-outs.

For the Dodgers, adding Snell strengthens their starting rotation for next season. The World Series champions heavily relied on their bullpen in October, and Snell provides them with a solid frontline starter. For Snell, this contract marks a quick and satisfying end to his free agency.

Snell’s $182 million deal is the third largest ever for a left-handed pitcher, behind David Price’s $217 million contract with the Boston Red Sox in 2015 and Clayton Kershaw’s $215 million deal with the Dodgers in 2014.

The Dodgers have been spending big lately. They have now given out five contracts worth at least $100 million since the start of the 2023-24 offseason, which is the same number as the rest of MLB combined.

Snell, a two-time Cy Young Award winner, opted out of the last year of his two-year, $62 million contract with the San Francisco Giants on November 1 to become a free agent for the second straight offseason.

Snell joins the Dodgers’ rotation, which already includes stars like Shohei Ohtani, Yoshinobu Yamamoto, and Tyler Glasnow. Other pitchers like Dustin May, Tony Gonsolin, Bobby Miller, and possibly Clayton Kershaw (if he re-signs) are also part of the mix. The Dodgers are also eyeing Japanese star right-hander Roki Sasaki, who may be posted this winter.

Snell was the National League’s Cy Young Award winner with the San Diego Padres in 2023. Despite his talent, concerns about his inconsistent strike-throwing led to offers that were lower than expected. He eventually signed with the Giants in late March, missing most of spring training and struggling at the start of the 2024 season. After six starts, he had a 9.51 ERA and went to the injured list twice with a groin strain. When he returned, he performed well, finishing with a 5-3 record, a 3.12 ERA, and 145 strikeouts in 104 innings over 20 starts.

From early July to late September, Snell was one of the best pitchers in the game, posting a 1.23 ERA with 114 strikeouts in 80⅓ innings. On August 2, he threw a no-hitter against the Cincinnati Reds. In other games, he consistently pitched at least six innings and allowed no more than two runs.

Snell has dealt with injuries but managed to finish the 2024 season strong. His standout year was in 2018 with the Rays, where he led the majors with 21 wins and an AL-best 1.89 ERA. Overall, Snell has a 76-58 record with a 3.19 ERA in nine MLB seasons.

In terms of salary, Snell’s $36.4 million average ranks fifth among active deals, behind Shohei Ohtani, Zack Wheeler, Aaron Judge, and Jacob deGrom.

The Dodgers are currently +400 favorites to win the 2025 World Series, according to ESPN BET. Notably, there hasn’t been a repeat World Series champion since the Yankees won three consecutive titles from 1998 to 2000, marking the longest drought without a repeat champion in MLB history.

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