Los Angeles Dodgers reportedly agree to $182 million deal with two-time Cy Young Award winner Blake Snell
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The Dodgers reached agreement with starting pitcher Blake Snell, a two-time Cy Young winner who spent last season playing for the Giants. (Charlie Riedel / Associated Press)
The Los Angeles Dodgers have reportedly reached a deal with two-time Cy Young Award winner Blake Snell, securing the 31-year-old pitcher with a five-year, $182 million contract, according to multiple sources, including The Athletic and the Associated Press. The agreement includes a significant $52 million signing bonus, along with roughly $60 million in deferred salary. This move comes after the Dodgers clinched the 2023 World Series, despite facing challenges with a depleted starting rotation heading into the offseason.
In the wake of key offseason injuries to pitchers Yoshinobu Yamamoto and Tyler Glasnow, and with 2024 NL MVP Shohei Ohtani recovering from Tommy John surgery, Snell’s addition is seen as a vital boost to the Dodgers’ pitching staff. In 2024, the team was forced to lean heavily on its bullpen due to the absence of reliable starters, so the signing of Snell is expected to provide significant relief. Snell, who made waves on social media by sharing an image of himself photoshopped into a Dodgers jersey, has a solid career record of 76-58 and an ERA of 3.19 over his nine years and 211 MLB starts. Notably, his career strikeout rate of 11.2 strikeouts per nine innings is the highest in major league history.
Snell is also one of the few pitchers to win the Cy Young Award in both the American and National Leagues, having taken home the prestigious honor in 2018 with the Tampa Bay Rays and in 2023 with the San Diego Padres. Despite a rocky start to his 2024 season due to missed time in spring training, Snell finished the year strong. He went 5-0 with a remarkable 1.23 ERA over his final 14 starts, including a no-hitter against the Cincinnati Reds in early August.
The reported deal, pending a physical examination, marks another major investment by the Dodgers, who have been particularly aggressive in recent seasons. Last offseason, they spent over $1.2 billion to bring in high-profile players like Ohtani, Yamamoto, Glasnow, and Teoscar Hernández. Since the 2023-24 offseason began, the Dodgers have handed out five contracts worth $100 million or more, matching the total number of such deals signed by the rest of Major League Baseball combined. This aggressive approach solidifies the Dodgers’ position as strong favorites for the 2025 World Series.
The deal with Snell continues a trend of high-profile signings for Los Angeles, reinforcing the team’s commitment to remaining a championship contender. However, while the Dodgers’ spending spree has been remarkable, it also highlights the broader competitive landscape in baseball, where financial power has become a key factor in assembling top-tier rosters.
With this addition, the Dodgers’ pitching staff is expected to be even more formidable in 2025, bolstered by Snell’s proven ability to perform at the highest level. Snell’s past success, particularly his dominant second half of the 2024 season, should provide a strong foundation for the team’s postseason aspirations. As the Dodgers continue to build a championship-caliber roster, they will look to use their wealth of talent to secure another World Series title in the near future.
Despite the immense pressure that comes with high expectations, the Dodgers’ front office and fanbase have embraced their current strategy. With the likes of Snell, Ohtani, and other recent acquisitions, Los Angeles is positioning itself as a team to watch for years to come. However, no team has won consecutive World Series titles since the late 1990s New York Yankees, adding even more intrigue to the Dodgers’ pursuit of another Commissioner’s Trophy in 2025.
As one of the most well-funded teams in the league, the Dodgers will face both high expectations and intense competition in their bid to repeat as World Series champions. But with a roster featuring some of the league’s top talent, including Snell, they will be one of the favorites heading into the upcoming season.
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