Blake Snell Joins Dodgers: “This Is Where You Want to Play”
LOS ANGELES — Blake Snell, the newest addition to the Los Angeles Dodgers, made his debut in Dodger blue on Tuesday, officially joining the reigning MLB champions. The left-handed ace, who just celebrated his 32nd birthday, signed a massive five-year, $182 million contract, making him the latest high-profile acquisition for a team that has been on a spending spree over the past year.
Snell’s deal includes $52 million up front and another $66 million deferred through 2046, a financial strategy the Dodgers have leaned on heavily in recent years. This marks the fourth nine-figure contract the Dodgers have handed out in the past 12 months, following deals with Shohei Ohtani, Yoshinobu Yamamoto, and Tyler Glasnow. All three of those pitchers, along with Snell, are expected to form a star-studded rotation in 2025, though each comes with their own set of injury concerns.
Snell, who has faced questions about his durability and ability to pitch deep into games, brings undeniable talent to a Dodgers pitching staff that could be the best in baseball when fully healthy. Dodgers president of baseball operations Andrew Friedman, who originally drafted Snell 52nd overall out of high school in 2011 during his time with the Tampa Bay Rays, expressed confidence in Snell’s potential to reach even greater heights.
“I’ve known him since he was 18 years old,” Friedman said. “To watch his journey, watch the incredible success that he’s had, has been very special. And with a guy that’s enjoyed that much success, usually in major league free agency you’re buying the back side of a guy’s career, the accomplishments that they’ve had. And with Blake, one thing that’s really exciting for us is that, for as much success as he’s had, we feel like there’s more in there, and a lot of upside beyond what he’s done to this point.”
A Familiar Face in a New Place
Dodgers fans will remember Snell from the 2020 World Series, where he started Game 6 for the Tampa Bay Rays. In that game, Snell was controversially pulled after giving up his first hit in the sixth inning, a decision that sparked the Dodgers’ championship-clinching comeback. Now, Snell is on the other side, ready to help the Dodgers chase another title.
After his time with the Rays, Snell spent three seasons with the San Diego Padres, the Dodgers’ division rival. He capped off his Padres tenure with a stellar 2023 season, winning his second Cy Young Award after posting a 14-9 record and a 2.25 ERA. However, his journey to this blockbuster deal wasn’t without its challenges. Following the 2023 season, Snell entered free agency expecting a big payday, but the offers didn’t come as anticipated. It wasn’t until March that he signed a two-year, $62 million deal with the San Francisco Giants, which included an opt-out after 2024.
“Clubs weren’t interested,” said Snell’s agent, Scott Boras. “They just didn’t call. The market for free agents started maybe in the middle of February. It was that different.”
A Rollercoaster 2024 Season
Snell’s 2024 season was a tale of two halves. He struggled mightily in the first three months, with his ERA ballooning to 9.51. But starting in July, Snell flipped the script. Over the final three months of the season, he threw a no-hitter, completed at least six innings in 10 of 14 starts, and posted a dominant 1.23 ERA with 114 strikeouts in 80 1/3 innings. That resurgence made him a top priority for the Dodgers, who had nearly signed him the previous offseason.
“It was really easy, just because me and (partner) Haeley wanted to live here,” Snell said of his decision to join the Dodgers. “It’s something we’ve been talking about for a while. And when you look at the team, you look at what they’ve built, what they’re doing, it’s just something you want to be a part of. Look at the first three hitters in the lineup. It’s tough to go against. So to be on the other side and know they’re going to be hitting for me, it’s pretty exciting.”
Snell was referring to Shohei Ohtani, Mookie Betts, and Freddie Freeman, who form the heart of the Dodgers’ star-studded lineup. Along with Snell, Glasnow, and Yamamoto, the Dodgers now have six players with contracts totaling more than $1.87 billion. Much of that money, however, will be paid out in deferred payments, a strategy the Dodgers have used to maintain financial flexibility.
Deferred Payments and Big Expectations
The Dodgers will owe more than $1 billion in deferred payments to seven players, including Betts, Freeman, Snell, and Ohtani, from 2028 to 2046. Despite the financial gymnastics, Friedman believes the strategy is worth it to assemble a championship-caliber roster.
“It’s just a lever,” Friedman said. “Including deferrals helps as a lever to find that overlap. It’s been a useful tool for us. But we have no hard-and-fast rule. We just like to get deals done.”
Snell’s signing marks only the second time in MLB history that the reigning World Series champions have acquired the reigning Cy Young Award winner in the ensuing offseason. The first instance was in 1999 when the New York Yankees added Roger Clemens.
For Snell, the move to Los Angeles represents a chance to pitch on one of baseball’s biggest stages. His career 2.03 ERA in seven starts at Dodger Stadium suggests he’s more than ready for the challenge.
“Being in L.A., the pressure is always on,” Snell said. “I like that. Living here, it’s pretty amazing, the opportunities. But being able to pitch in a packed stadium, you know, you make moments for people, and this is where you want to play. I don’t think there’s a better situation that you could be in than being right here.”
Originally Written by: Alden Gonzalez
