Dodgers News: Blake Snell Signs $182M Deal with Dodgers
Today at 12:30 AM
The Los Angeles Dodgers have made a significant splash tonight, signing two-time Cy Young Award winner Blake Snell to a five-year, $182 million contract, per MLB.com's Mark Feinsand. While the team has not yet confirmed the deal, Snell made it official by posting a photo of himself in a Dodgers uniform on Instagram.
Snell, one of the top free-agent pitchers available, joins a Dodgers rotation looking to re-establish dominance after an injury-plagued 2024 campaign. This signing strengthens the Dodgers' pitching staff and further solidifies their position as World Series favorites in 2025.
Snell, 31, is coming off another strong season in which he posted a 3.12 ERA over 177 1/3 innings, showcasing the elite form that earned him his second Cy Young Award in 2023. While he has dealt with bouts of inconsistency and durability concerns throughout his career, Snell's ability to dominate when healthy makes him one of the most feared pitchers in baseball.
His 2024 campaign included a resurgence after an early-season groin injury, capped by a no-hitter against the Cincinnati Reds on August 2, marking the first complete game of his career. Over his final 14 starts of the season, Snell posted a 1.23 ERA with a .123 opponents' batting average and 114 strikeouts across 80 1/3 innings, proving that he remains a force at the top of any rotation.
Since making his MLB debut in 2016, Snell has established himself as one of the premier strikeout pitchers in the game. His career 11.2 K/9 rate is the highest in MLB history among pitchers with at least 1,000 innings. Across nine seasons, he has compiled a 3.19 ERA and won two Cy Young Awards—one with the Tampa Bay Rays in 2018 and the other with the San Diego Padres in 2023.
After being traded to the Padres in 2020, Snell had a mixed start in San Diego but found his groove in 2022 before achieving peak dominance in 2023. He then signed a two-year deal with the San Francisco Giants but opted out after just one season to explore free agency.
Snell's signing addresses a critical need for the Dodgers, who faced significant challenges with pitching depth in 2024. Pairing Snell with Julio Urías and a recovering Shohei Ohtani gives Los Angeles one of the most formidable rotations in baseball. Snell's ability to miss bats, limit hard contact, and dominate in high-leverage situations aligns perfectly with the Dodgers' championship aspirations.
The Dodgers' aggressive pursuit of Snell demonstrates their commitment to maintaining their status as perennial contenders, particularly after falling short of their ultimate goal in 2024. With this signing, the Dodgers are sending a clear message: they're all-in for 2025.
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