Dodgers signing ex-Padres Cy Young Award winner Blake Snell
LOS ANGELES — The first big move of baseball’s offseason is being made by the World Series champions.
Looking to shore up a starting rotation that dissolved with injuries each of the past two seasons, the Dodgers have reached agreement on a five-year, $182 million contract with two-time Cy Young Award winner Blake Snell. The deal, which includes a signing bonus and some deferred money but no opt-out clauses, is pending a physical.
Snell announced the agreement by posting a photo of himself in a Dodgers uniform on his Instagram account on Tuesday night.
The 31-year-old left-hander was one of the top starting pitchers on the free agent market this winter, along with Corbin Burnes and Max Fried. The Dodgers explored all three and are still considered the favorites to sign Japanese right-hander Roki Sasaki when he is posted.
Snell joins a starting rotation that currently includes Shohei Ohtani and Yoshinobu Yamamoto — neither of whom will be asked to pitch on less than five days of rest — and a lot of question marks. Tyler Glasnow’s 2024 season ended early with an elbow injury and his status for 2025 is uncertain. Tony Gonsolin will be returning from Tommy John surgery. Dustin May did not pitch in 2024 while recovering from his own elbow surgery and a torn esophagus. Emmet Sheehan is expected back at some point in 2025 after his Tommy John surgery.
