Blake Snell, the talented left-handed pitcher and two-time Cy Young Award winner, has officially signed a five-year contract worth $182 million with the Los Angeles Dodgers. Announced on Tuesday night, the deal is subject to a physical examination and features a substantial $52 million signing bonus, along with some deferred payments and no opt-out clauses.
For the Dodgers, this acquisition adds a top-tier starter essential for their upcoming season as they defend their World Series title. Last season, the team heavily relied on their bullpen due to injuries limiting them to only three available starters. Snell’s signing represents a critical step in fortifying their pitching lineup.
This contract is historically significant as it ranks as the third-largest for a left-handed pitcher in MLB history, trailing only David Price’s 2015 deal with the Boston Red Sox and Clayton Kershaw’s contract with the Dodgers in 2014. This move is a part of a considerable spending spree by the Dodgers, who have now secured five contracts exceeding $100 million since the 2023-24 offseason, matching the total of all other Major League Baseball teams combined.
Snell’s journey to this deal has seen him transition from the San Diego Padres, where he won the National League Cy Young Award in 2023, to the Giants, and ultimately to the Dodgers. After a rocky start to the 2024 season with the Giants, where he struggled with injuries and performance issues, Snell rebounded impressively, finishing the season with a 5-3 record, a 3.12 ERA, and striking out 145 batters in 104 innings over 20 starts.
His considerable talent has propelled him into a Dodgers rotation that could become one of the most formidable in the league, potentially including Shohei Ohtani, Yoshinobu Yamamoto, and Tyler Glasnow alongside Snell. Should Clayton Kershaw re-sign, the Dodgers’ pitching staff is set for a strong 2025 season as they aim to reclaim their championship title.
As Snell begins this new chapter with the Dodgers, his average salary of $36.4 million will position him among the highest-paid players in the league, demonstrating the team’s commitment to investing in elite pitching talent. This significant move could help shift the balance in the league as the Dodgers strive to break the longest drought in MLB history without a repeat champion.
Summary: Blake Snell has signed a five-year, $182 million contract with the Los Angeles Dodgers, marking one of the largest deals for a left-handed pitcher in MLB history. This addition aims to strengthen the Dodgers’ rotation as they look to defend their World Series title in the upcoming season, and it signifies the team’s ongoing commitment to acquiring top talent. The partnership between Snell and the Dodgers promises to bring excitement to the 2025 season. With a team stacked with pitching talent, the Dodgers are set to be strong contenders as they embark on their quest for back-to-back championships.