Blake Snell's second try at free company went significantly better than his first. The lefty has agreed to a five-year, $182 million contract with the Los Angeles Dodgers, CBS Sports activities HQ has confirmed. Snell's deal features a $52 million signing bonus and a few deferred cash, based on the Los Angeles Instances. The workforce has but to substantiate the signing (though Snell posted an image of himself in a Dodgers uniform on Instagram) and the contract is pending a bodily.
Final offseason, Snell settled for a two-year, $62 million contract with the San Francisco Giants regardless of successful his second Cy Younger Award in 2023. He pitched nicely for San Francisco general and was significantly good within the second half. Snell then used an opt-out choice to re-enter free company and was in a position to get the multi-year contract he was unable to get final winter.
RJ Anderson ranked Snell the fourth finest free agent out there this offseasonand the second-best free agent starter behind Corbin Burnes. Right here is his writing:
Snell bounced again from a truncated spring coaching and a pair of early journeys to the disabled record to amass the fourth-best ERA+ of his profession. That doesn't sound spectacular at first look, however think about the circumstances and do not forget that he's a two-time Cy Younger Award winner. Snell nonetheless has the identical fundamental profile he did this time final 12 months when he started his first foray into free company: He has an elite potential to overlook the bat, however some groups will scoff at his ineffectiveness. Honest sufficient, we suppose. Snell continues to provide 12 months after 12 months as nicely.
Snell, 32, completed 2024 with a three.12 ERA and 145 strikeouts in 20 begins and 104 innings for the Giants. He missed time with a pair of groin strains within the first half. Snell returned from his second damage on July 9 after which pitched to a 1.23 ERA over his final 12 begins. That features an 11-hit shutout in opposition to the Cincinnati Reds on August 2nd.
There are occasions when Snell is usually a chore to observe as a result of he walks so many batters and goes into a whole lot of deep counts, though he is likely one of the finest strikeout hitters within the sport, and when he's on, Snell is identical nearly as good as anybody. the sport. In 30 second-inning begins over the previous two seasons, Snell has put collectively a 1.30 ERA whereas holding opponents to a .456 OPS.
With the world champion Dodgers, Snell joins a doubtlessly deep rotation, but in addition one with uncertainties. Nationwide League MVP Shohei Ohtani will resume pitching duties in 2025 however is coming off elbow and shoulder procedures. Yoshinobu Yamamoto was restricted to only 18 begins in his first MLB season attributable to a rotator cuff pressure and triceps drawback. Tyler Glasnow, Snell's former Rays teammate, is not any stranger to damage woes. The righty hasn't pitched since Aug. 11 due to tendinitis in his pitching elbow. Elsewhere, Tony Gonsolin and Dustin Might in 2025 will return from their very own Tommy John procedures.
Final season, supervisor Dave Roberts was compelled to navigate the postseason with solely three wholesome beginning pitchers, which after all he did with aplomb. Because it repeats in 2025, the Dodgers are as soon as once more stocking up on rotation depth. Current historical past suggests they may want all that depth.
When wholesome, a Dodger rotation that now contains Snell has ace-like potential at practically each slot. LA's lineup has lengthy been well-known for having an abundance of star energy, and now with Snell within the fold and Ohtani set to pitch for the primary time as a Dodger, you’ll be able to say the identical concerning the rotation.
Wanting ahead, the Dodgers have been closely linked to 2 of the highest free brokers in the marketplace — outfielder Juan Soto and righty Roki Sasaki, who is ready to be assigned and make the soar from Japan. Additionally remaining on the free agent market are two Dodger lifers, future Clayton Kershaw and veteran right-hander Walker Buehler. It's unclear what the nine-figure funding in Snell means for both of these potentialities.