Less than a month after winning the World Series, the Los Angeles Dodgers are making another big move by adding one of baseball’s top pitchers to their already star-packed team.
Blake Snell and the Dodgers have agreed to a five-year, $182 million contract, according to a source close to the negotiations. The person, who spoke anonymously to The Associated Press on Tuesday night, said the deal depends on a successful physical.
Snell, a two-time Cy Young Award winner, shared the news himself by posting a picture on social media of him in a Dodgers uniform, wearing number 7.
Snell will join Shohei Ohtani, a two-way star, and fellow Japanese pitcher Yoshinobu Yamamoto at the top of the Dodgers’ rotation. This signing marks the first major deal of this offseason, following Ohtani’s $700 million, 10-year contract and Yamamoto’s $325 million, 12-year deal last winter.
Ohtani didn’t pitch this year due to right elbow surgery but is expected to return to the mound in 2025. He won his third MVP award — his first in the National League — after an outstanding season as a designated hitter.
Yamamoto, in his rookie season, posted a 7-2 record with a 3.00 ERA in 18 starts and pitched well in the postseason, winning twice in four appearances.
The Dodgers faced a shortage of healthy starting pitchers during the postseason but managed to win their second World Series title in five years. With the free-agent departures of right-handers Jack Flaherty and Walker Buehler, the team needed to fill some gaps in their pitching staff. Snell’s addition will provide a strong arm at the top of the rotation.
Snell’s average salary of $36.4 million per year will make it the fifth-highest in Major League Baseball next year, behind Ohtani ($70 million), Zack Wheeler of Philadelphia ($42 million), Aaron Judge of the New York Yankees ($40 million), and Jacob deGrom of Texas ($37 million). Among previous contracts, Snell’s salary is also lower than those of Max Scherzer and Justin Verlander, who each earned $43.33 million on deals with the New York Mets.
ESPN was the first to report the terms of Snell’s contract.
Earlier in the month, Snell decided to opt out of his contract with San Francisco, making him a free agent for the second straight offseason. He had been hampered by injuries in his only year with the Giants.
In March, Snell had agreed to a two-year deal with San Francisco worth $62 million, including a $17 million signing bonus due in January 2026. He was set to earn $15 million in 2024 and $30 million in 2025, with $15 million deferred until July 2027.
Snell, who will turn 32 next week, posted a 5-3 record with a 3.12 ERA in 20 starts this season. He threw a no-hitter against Cincinnati on August 2, one of only 16 no-hitters in Major League Baseball this year.
He struck out 145 batters and walked 44 in 104 innings. He missed time in the spring due to a left adductor strain (April 19-May 22) and later in the summer due to a left groin strain (June 2-July 9).
Snell won Cy Young Awards in 2018 with Tampa Bay and 2023 with San Diego. He has a 76-58 record with a 3.19 ERA over nine seasons with the Rays (2016-2020), Padres (2021-2023), and Giants.
Because Snell turned down a qualifying offer from San Diego last November, the Giants will not receive any draft-pick compensation for him.
The Dodgers expect to have All-Star right-hander Tyler Glasnow and three-time Cy Young Award winner Clayton Kershaw back in their rotation next season. Other potential starters, if healthy, include right-handers Dustin May, Tony Gonsolin, and Bobby Miller.
Ohtani is recovering from right elbow surgery in September 2023 and left shoulder surgery in November 2024.
Glasnow did not pitch after August 11 due to right elbow tendinitis.
Kershaw, who turns 37 in March, had foot and knee surgeries on November 7. He turned down a $10 million player option for 2024 to become a free agent but is expected to return to the Dodgers.
May is recovering from Tommy John surgery in July 2023, as well as an operation in July 2024 to repair a tear in his esophagus.
Gonsolin spent 2024 recovering from Tommy John surgery.
Miller, a rookie who won 11 games in 2023, struggled this year with a 2-4 record and an 8.52 ERA in 13 starts. He finished the regular season in the minors.
Yamamoto, who signed a $325 million contract, had right triceps tightness between June 15 and September 10, but returned to pitch well in the postseason, finishing with a 2-0 record and a 3.86 ERA in four playoff starts.
