LA Dodgers add Blake Snell on $182m contract in first megadeal of winter

Less than a month after winning the World Series, the Los Angeles Dodgers are once again spending big to add one of baseball’s best pitchers to their star-studded roster.

Blake Snell and the Dodgers agreed to a five-year, $182 million contract, according to a person with direct knowledge of the negotiations. The person spoke to The Associated Press on condition of anonymity Tuesday evening because the deal is contingent on a successful physical transaction.

The two-time Cy Young Award winner announced the news personally by posting a photo of himself on social media wearing a Dodgers uniform – No. 7.

Snell would join two-way superstar Shohei Ohtani and fellow Japanese right-hander Yoshinobu Yamamoto atop Los Angeles’ rotation, giving the Dodgers the first mega-deal of the offseason following Ohtani’s $700 million, 10-year contract and Yamamoto’s $325 million, 12 -year contract. agreement last winter.

Ohtani did not pitch this year while recovering from right elbow surgery, but is expected back on the mound in 2025. He won his third MVP award – first in the National League – after a huge season at the plate solely as a design hitter.

Yamamoto went 7-2 with a 3.00 ERA in 18 starts as a rookie, then won twice in four games in October.

With three healthy starting pitchers left in the postseason, Los Angeles overcame a series of injuries during its expected rotation to win the franchise’s second World Series title in five years.

Right-handers Jack Flaherty and Walker Buehler then became free agents this fall, leaving more voids on the staff. But the addition of Snell would fill a major at the top with a legitimate ace.

Snell’s average salary of $36.4 million would be the fifth highest among active deals next year, behind Ohtani ($70 million), Philadelphia pitcher Zack Wheeler ($42 million), New York Yankees outfielder Aaron Judge ($40 million) and Texas pitcher Jacob deGrom ($37). M). Among the expired contracts, pitchers Max Scherzer and Justin Verlander were also exceeded (both $43.33 million) under deals they agreed to with the New York Mets.

ESPN first reported the details of Snell’s contract.

Earlier this month, Snell opted out of his deal with San Francisco to become a free agent for the second straight offseason after being slowed by injuries during his lone year with the Giants.

The southpaw agreed to a two-year, $62 million contract in March that included a $17 million signing bonus payable on Jan. 15, 2026, a $15 million salary for 2024 and a $30 million salary for 2025, of which $15 million would have been paid. deferred and payable on July 1, 2027.

Snell, who turns 32 next week, went 5-3 with a 3.12 ERA in 20 starts this year and threw a no-hitter at Cincinnati on Aug. 2 for one of only 16 individual shutouts in the major leagues this season. He struck out 145 batters and walked 44 in 104 innings.

He was sidelined by a left adductor strain between April 19 and May 22 and by a left groin strain between June 2 and July 9.

Snell won the Cy Young Awards in 2018 with Tampa Bay and 2023 with San Diego. He is 76-58 with a 3.19 ERA in nine seasons with the Rays (2016-20), Padres (2021-23) and Giants.

Because he turned down a qualifying offer from San Diego last November, the Giants were ineligible to make another offer to Snell and will not receive any draft pick compensation.

Los Angeles expects All-Star right-hander Tyler Glasnow and three-time Cy Young Award winner Clayton Kershaw back in the rotation next year. Other starting candidates, if healthy, include right-handers Dustin May, Tony Gonsolin and Bobby Miller.

Ohtani will undergo right elbow surgery in September 2023 and left shoulder surgery on November 5.

Glasnow did not pitch after August 11 due to right elbow tendonitis.

Kershaw, who turns 37 in March, underwent foot and knee surgery on November 7. He declined a $10 million player option in favor of free agency but is expected to return to Los Angeles.

May returns from Tommy John surgery in July 2023 and for surgery last July to repair a tear in his esophagus.

Gonsolin spent 2024 rehabbing from Tommy John surgery.

Miller, winner of eleven games as a rookie in 2023, was sidelined early this season by a shoulder infection. He struggled to a 2-4 record with an 8.52 ERA in 13 big league starts and finished the regular season in the minors.

Yamamoto was sidelined by a right triceps tightness between June 15 and September 10, then returned to go 2–0 with a 3.86 ERA in four postseason starts, completing the first season of his $325 million contract.