The Los Angeles Dodgers are showing no signs of slowing down in their spending spree, even after clinching the World Series title. They recently signed Blake Snell to a lucrative five-year contract worth $182 million, as reported by various sources. Some reports also suggest that the deal includes deferred payments.
Last year, the Dodgers dished out over $1 billion in contracts, and they wasted no time in making another major move this offseason by securing the first nine-figure deal less than a month after their championship win. Snell, who previously played for the San Francisco Giants on a two-year deal with an opt-out clause, became a free agent in March after teams hesitated to commit to him.
Despite a rocky start to his season with a high ERA and a stint on the injured list, Snell turned things around impressively in his final 14 games, boasting a remarkable 1.23 ERA and striking out 114 batters in 80.1 innings. The Dodgers were clearly impressed by the left-hander’s performance and decided to bring him on board.
Looking ahead, the Dodgers anticipate the return of Shohei Ohtani to the rotation and are uncertain about the future of Clayton Kershaw and Walker Buehler. While Kershaw may retire or remain with the team for his entire career, the Dodgers also have Tyler Glasnow in their ranks and are favored to acquire Japanese talent Roki Sasaki, following their successful signing of Yoshinobu Yamamoto last year.
Despite being somewhat underrated in the league due to his limited innings, Snell has proven himself as a standout pitcher with a no-hitter under his belt in 2024. His impressive strikeout rate of 11.2 per nine innings is a record in MLB history, and his career ERA stands at a solid 3.19. Although he has only made one All-Star appearance, Snell’s performance hints at a potential Hall of Fame trajectory.
As Snell approaches his 32nd birthday next week, the Dodgers are taking a calculated risk by investing in his talent. With their financial resources, the team can absorb any potential setbacks that may arise. This significant signing marks the beginning of what could be a series of impactful moves by the Dodgers in the offseason.
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