Blake Snell signs with the Dodgers

By Lachlan Wellington November 30, 2024 05:42

Photo by Getty Images

The Los Angeles Dodgers once again flexed their vast riches and spending power by signing left-handed starting pitcher, two-time Cy Young winner Blake Snell to a five-year $182 million contract.

Snell holds a 78-58 record throughout his career with an ERA of 3.19 across 211 games, all of which he started and a WAR of 23.4. Snell has pitched 1096.2 innings in his career with 1368 strikeouts and a Walks and Hits Per Innings pitched (WHIP) of 1.217.

Alongside his two Cy Young Awards (2018 and 2023), Snell was named an All-Star once back in 2018 and also has two ERA titles also from 2018 and 2023. In 2024, for the San Francisco Giants, Snell started in 20 games boasting a 5-3 record, 2.1 WAR, 3.12 ERA, pitching in 104.0 innings for 145 strikeouts and a WHIP of 1.048.

Snell broke the news to fans and MLB himself on social media, posting a picture of him wearing the No.7 Dodgers shirt. Snell also had a no hitter in 2024 against the Cincinnati Reds, all of this coming after a tough start to life on the Giants where he had a 9.51 ERA across his first six starts and facing injury difficulties throughout the season.

If he stays relatively healthy in 2025, Snell will form part of what will now be an even more formidable starting pitching rotation for the Dodgers. Snell will join a starting rotation which features Yoshinobu Yamamoto, the Japanese superstar who had a major impact in his first season for LA and Shohei Ohtani will also return to pitching in 2025 as he will be fully recovered from elbow surgery.

Snell’s $36.4 million annual average salary will rank as the fifth highest amongst active MLB deals behind only Shohei Ohtani ($70 million), Phillies pitcher Zaxk Wheeler ($42m), Yankees outfielder Aaron Judge ($40m) and Rangers pitcher Jacob deGrom ($37m). In terms of expired contracts, only Max Scherzer and Justin Verlander’s $43.33m deals they both signed with the New York Mets exceeded Snell’s new deal with the Dodgers.

The south-paw elected to become a free agent for the second season in a row after opting out of his deal with the Giants after Snell was slowed due to injuries in his single season in San Francisco.

Dodgers cannot only expect these three starters in 2025 as both All-Star right-hander Tyler Glasnow and three-time Cy Young award winner Clayton Kershaw are also expected back in 2025 which would form one of the most potent starting pitching lineups not only in the league but arguably in the history of MLB. The Dodgers will also have Dustin May, Tony Gonsolin and Bobby Miller to use if they stay healthy.

This Snell deal may also have repercussions for two Dodgers pitchers who hit free agency this season in Walker Buehler and Jack Flaherty. Both who formed two pieces of the three starters for the Dodgers in the 2024 postseason. The Dodgers will likely let the pair walk after signing Snell.

Buehler returned from Tommy John surgery with a 1-6 record, a 5.38 ERA and 1.55 WHIP. However, he closed the playoffs with 13 straight scoreless innings to help the Dodgers to their first World Series title since 2020.

Flaherty meanwhile penned a on-eyear contract with the Tigers in 2024 before being traded to the Dodgers in July. Flaherty went 13-7 in 2024 with a 3.17 ERA, 1.07 WHIP, 194 strikeouts in 162 innings.

This move for the Dodgers is bound to have an effect on the starting pitching market as the players left will be more desirable and sought-after now that Snell is off-limits.