Tag: Los Angeles Dodgers

Dodgers Monitor Shohei Ohtani’s Recovery Progress Ahead of 2025 Season Amid Pitching Uncertainty

Post author By Michael Smith
Post date December 19, 2024
No Comments on Dodgers Monitor Shohei Ohtani’s Recovery Progress Ahead of 2025 Season Amid Pitching Uncertainty

As the Los Angeles Dodgers prepare for the 2025 season, much attention is focused on superstar Shohei Ohtani, who is currently recovering from multiple surgeries. Fans are eagerly anticipating his return, but there are concerns about whether he will be ready to pitch by Opening Day in Japan. Dodgers manager Dave Roberts has expressed doubt about Ohtani’s ability to take the mound by March 18, when the team is scheduled to face the Cubs at the Tokyo Dome. This uncertainty has raised questions about the team’s expectations and Ohtani’s future performance.

Ohtani has long been a standout player in Major League Baseball, celebrated for his exceptional ability to both pitch and hit. However, his career has been hindered by injuries, with his most recent setbacks including elbow surgery in September 2023 and an arthroscopic procedure on his left shoulder. These surgeries have complicated his recovery timeline, making it unlikely that Ohtani will be ready to pitch by the start of the 2025 season. The Dodgers are adopting a cautious approach, prioritizing Ohtani’s long-term health and performance over rushing him back to the mound.

Despite these challenges, Ohtani is still expected to contribute to the Dodgers as a designated hitter. His remarkable performance in the previous season, including a .310 batting average, a .390 on-base percentage, and a .646 slugging percentage, underscores his value to the team. Ohtani also won the MVP award unanimously and made history by hitting over 50 home runs and stealing 50 bases in a single season. The Dodgers will rely on his offensive skills as they manage his rehabilitation and recovery process, carefully balancing his health with the demands of the season.

Looking ahead, the Dodgers’ focus will be on Ohtani’s rehabilitation. Manager Roberts emphasized the importance of maintaining Ohtani’s shoulder strength while gradually integrating him back into pitching routines. This process will involve closely monitoring his progress, allowing him to participate in hitters’ meetings, and ramping up his at-bats as a designated hitter. The upcoming season will be a test for Ohtani’s resilience as well as the Dodgers’ ability to adapt to his changing role, ensuring that he can contribute to the team’s success while prioritizing his recovery.

Ultimately, the Dodgers and their fans are hopeful that with careful management, Ohtani will return to his peak form, both as a hitter and potentially as a pitcher later in the season. His return will be critical for the team’s championship aspirations, and the Dodgers will need to navigate his injury recovery with patience and precision. With Ohtani’s potential still immense, the 2025 season will be a pivotal year for both him and the team as they work to make the most of his extraordinary talents.

Tags Los Angeles Dodgers, Shohei Ohtani

MLB (Baseball)

Shohei Ohtani Signs Historic $700 Million Deal with Dodgers, Shattering Records in Global Sports

Post author By James Brown
Post date December 18, 2024
No Comments on Shohei Ohtani Signs Historic $700 Million Deal with Dodgers, Shattering Records in Global Sports

Shohei Ohtani has signed a groundbreaking 10-year, $700 million deal with the Los Angeles Dodgers, a contract that shatters records across sports. The deal, announced officially by the Dodgers, is the largest in global sports history, surpassing the previous record set by soccer star Lionel Messi’s $674 million deal with FC Barcelona. In North American team sports, Ohtani’s contract outstrips Patrick Mahomes’ $450 million extension with the Kansas City Chiefs. In MLB, it breaks the previous record for a free-agent deal, which was set by Aaron Judge’s $360 million contract with the Yankees.

This historic agreement reflects Ohtani’s status as a once-in-a-generation talent, combining his extraordinary hitting and pitching skills. The two-way superstar, a two-time unanimous MVP and three-time All-Star, is expected to be a key asset for the Dodgers, despite needing to recover from surgery to repair his right UCL, which will prevent him from pitching in 2024. However, Ohtani will serve as the Dodgers’ designated hitter next season, providing significant offensive firepower alongside MVP candidates Mookie Betts and Freddie Freeman.

Ohtani’s contract includes “unprecedented deferrals,” a strategy designed by the player to give the Dodgers flexibility in managing the luxury tax and maintaining competitive resources for the team. This structure not only benefits the team’s financial situation but also aligns with Ohtani’s goal of long-term success and winning with his new team. The deferrals also offer tax advantages, further emphasizing his commitment to the Dodgers’ competitive future.

Ohtani’s contract solidifies his place as one of the most influential players in MLB history. Over six seasons with the Angels, he posted remarkable statistics both as a hitter and pitcher, including a .274 batting average, 171 home runs, and a 3.01 ERA with 608 strikeouts. His 2023 season was his most impressive at the plate, leading the AL in home runs, OBP, slugging, and WAR. His all-around ability is unmatched, and his presence will greatly enhance the Dodgers’ lineup in 2024 and beyond.

With Ohtani now off the market, the Dodgers can focus on filling other roster needs, particularly in their pitching staff. There are ongoing discussions and links to possible trade targets, including top pitchers like Corbin Burnes of the Brewers, Tyler Glasnow of the Rays, and Dylan Cease of the White Sox. With Ohtani’s addition, the Dodgers are poised for sustained success, but they will continue to seek moves that ensure they remain a competitive powerhouse in MLB.

Tags Los Angeles Dodgers, Shohei Ohtani

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Blake Snell Joins Dodgers on Five-Year, $182 Million Deal, Strengthening Pitching Rotation

Post author By Christopher Harris
Post date December 18, 2024
No Comments on Blake Snell Joins Dodgers on Five-Year, $182 Million Deal, Strengthening Pitching Rotation

Blake Snell recently revealed that he had agreed to a contract with the Los Angeles Dodgers by posting a picture of himself in a Dodger uniform on Instagram. ESPN later confirmed the deal, reporting that it is a five-year, $182 million contract. This move significantly strengthens the Dodgers’ pitching rotation, which struggled during the playoffs, even resorting to a bullpen game in Game 4 of the World Series. Snell’s addition helps address the pitching depth of the team, which had to rely on patchwork solutions during the postseason.

Looking ahead to the 2025 season, the Dodgers’ rotation could feature several high-profile players alongside Snell, including Tyler Glasnow, Shohei Ohtani, Yoshinobu Yamamoto, Clayton Kershaw, and possibly Rōki Sasaki and Dustin May. This robust lineup would help secure the Dodgers’ place as contenders, although the signing of Snell likely rules out the return of Walker Buehler, who had been a World Series hero for the team. Despite his contributions, Buehler might not be able to find a spot on the roster with the current depth.

Snell’s 2023-24 free agency did not unfold as he or his agent, Scott Boras, had initially anticipated. Early expectations were that Snell could command a contract worth around $270 million, surpassing Stephen Strasburg’s 2019 deal. However, those hopes were adjusted, and Snell ended up signing a two-year, $62 million deal with the San Francisco Giants, with an opt-out after the first year. Snell took home $32 million for the first year before opting out, leaving $30 million on the table.

The Dodgers’ contract with Snell is reportedly worth around $170 million in present-day value due to a large signing bonus and deferred payments. The financial structure, with a $52 million signing bonus and $65 million deferred, reduces the hit to the Dodgers’ salary cap to roughly $32.4 million per year. Snell’s average annual value (AAV) of $36.4 million exceeds that of Gerrit Cole’s deal, making it a lucrative contract for the left-hander despite the deferred payments. His deal is also far less than Max Scherzer’s $43.33 million AAV, but Scherzer’s contract was only for three years.

By combining Snell’s Dodgers contract with his previous Giants deal, he has secured a total of six years and $214 million, an impressive sum that brings his average salary close to $36 million per year. Snell’s deal is notably lucrative given his age of 32, as Cole signed his record deal at 29. The contract also includes limited no-trade protection and a trade bonus/penalty. While some players, like Juan Soto, may avoid deferred payments, Snell was comfortable with the structure. With this move, the Dodgers continue to prove their excellence in both player acquisition and financial management, reinforcing their status as a top-tier organization.

Tags Los Angeles Dodgers

MLB (Baseball)

The Dodgers anticipate Shohei Ohtani will be ready to bat in the season opener in Japan, though he won’t be pitching

Post author By Robert Jackson
Post date December 10, 2024
No Comments on The Dodgers anticipate Shohei Ohtani will be ready to bat in the season opener in Japan, though he won’t be pitching

Shohei Ohtani walks to the plate to bat in the Game 3

The Los Angeles Dodgers expect Shohei Ohtani to be ready to bat when they begin their season in Japan against the Chicago Cubs on March 18 and 19.

“I don’t think he’d have it any other way,” manager Dave Roberts said on Monday about the National League MVP, who had shoulder surgery last month. “That’s our expectation.”

After winning his third MVP award, Ohtani is unlikely to pitch while recovering from right elbow surgery in September 2023. Roberts said it is “very unlikely” that Ohtani will pitch in his home country.

“I just don’t see us starting the clock in March to then think that we would keep that continuously going through October,” Roberts said during the winter meetings. “Then that would call for a break or reprieve in the middle of the season, so I don’t know. I still think unlikely.”

Ohtani had surgery on November 5 to repair a torn labrum in his non-throwing shoulder, an injury he got while sliding during a stolen base attempt in Game 2 of the World Series on October 26.

He did not pitch at all during the first season of his $700 million, 10-year deal with the Dodgers as he was recovering from elbow surgery, which followed Tommy John surgery in October 2018.

Shohei Ohtani reacts after fouling a pitch in the Game 3

A unanimous National League MVP, Ohtani became the first player to hit at least 50 home runs and steal at least 50 bases in a season. He surely wants to be in the lineup in Japan.

“It’s not cemented. If something doesn’t look right, feel right, obviously we’ve got to pivot. Maybe a lot of disappointed fans,” Roberts said. “We’re going to do what’s best for Shohei. But where we stand right now, I expect him to play.”

Roberts doesn’t think the recent surgery on Ohtani’s left shoulder will affect his ability to pitch.

“His right elbow is the biggest factor. I just think the question is when he starts pitching in major league games and how we build him up prior to,” Roberts said. “I don’t see it as a minor league rehab situation, but I don’t know. I think it’s a conversation that once we sort of get closer, we’ll figure out. That’s going to be … we’ve got to kind of be nimble with that one.”

After his elbow surgery at the end of his rookie season in 2018, Ohtani didn’t pitch again until early in the COVID-delayed 2020 season, which didn’t start until July.

The Dodgers manager said he hasn’t yet given much thought to how Ohtani will balance hitting and pitching full-time after another surgery.

“It’s going to be interesting, because the continued, not necessarily rehab with the left shoulder, but keeping it strong, maintaining it … within the overall body stuff. And then the pitching regimen, the side sessions of pitching, to then be a part of hitters’ meetings and get ready, get ramped up to take at-bats as a DH,” Roberts said.

“I guess if anyone can manage it, it’s Shohei. He doesn’t waste much time when he’s at the ballpark. But it’s certainly going to look a lot different.”

Tags Los Angeles Dodgers

MLB (Baseball)

The Dodgers have agreed to a $17 million, one-year contract with Conforto and a $22 million, two-year deal with Treinen

Post author By James Brown
Post date December 9, 2024
No Comments on The Dodgers have agreed to a $17 million, one-year contract with Conforto and a $22 million, two-year deal with Treinen

Michael Conforto reacts after hitting a single in the 6th inning

The Los Angeles Dodgers have agreed to a $17 million, one-year contract with outfielder Michael Conforto and a $22 million, two-year deal with right-handed pitcher Blake Treinen, sources familiar with the negotiations told The Associated Press.

The sources, speaking on condition of anonymity because the deals were still subject to successful physicals, confirmed the agreements. MLB.com was the first to report Conforto’s deal.

Conforto, who will turn 32 on March 1, had a .237 batting average with 20 home runs and 66 RBIs in his final season with San Francisco in 2023, which was the last year of a $36 million, two-year contract. Conforto played for the New York Mets from 2015 to 2021 and became an All-Star in 2017. He declined an $18.4 million offer from the Mets and did not play in 2022 while recovering from right shoulder surgery.

Over nine seasons in the majors, Conforto has a .251 career batting average, 167 home runs, and 520 RBIs.

Blake Treinen reacts after striking out Manny Machado in the 9th inning

Treinen, 36, missed the 2023 MLB season while recovering from labrum and rotator cuff surgery in November 2022. He also suffered a bruised lung in March 2023 after being hit by a line drive off the bat of Sam Huff of the Texas Rangers. Treinen didn’t make his season debut until May 5.

In 2022, Treinen went 7-3 with a 1.93 ERA in 50 relief appearances, striking out 56 and walking 11 in 46 2/3 innings. He was 2-0 with a 2.19 ERA in nine postseason appearances, helping his team win the World Series.

Treinen had a $1 million base salary in the final year of a contract that originally called for an $8 million salary in 2023.

Tags Los Angeles Dodgers, MLB

MLB (Baseball)

The Dodgers’ deferred payment commitments have exceeded $1 billion for seven players following the contracts of Snell and Edman

The Los Angeles Dodgers’ obligations for deferred payments have now exceeded $1 billion after the contracts for Blake Snell and Tommy Edman. These deals add up to $1,006,500,000 that the team owes to seven players from 2028 to 2046.

Snell’s $182 million contract, announced on Saturday, includes $66 million in deferred payments, which will be paid to him through July 1, 2046. Edman’s $74 million, five-year deal, announced on Friday, includes $25 million that will be paid to him through July 1, 2044.

“It’s just how you account for it,” Dodgers president of baseball operations Andrew Friedman explained on Tuesday. “You have to fund a lot of it right now, and having that money go to work for you, we have — a lot of our ownership group are from financial backgrounds and can have that money going to work right now, and just making it — not something that sneaks up on us. We’re not going to wake up in 2035 and (say): ‘Oh my God, that’s right. We have this money due.’ We’ll plan for it along the way.”

San Francisco Giants pitcher Blake Snell throws during the second inning of a baseball game

Snell’s contract has an average that’s reduced to about $31.4 million annually for the Dodgers’ luxury tax payroll, and Edman’s average is about $12.9 million.

Snell’s deal includes a $52 million signing bonus, payable on January 25. His annual salary is $26 million, with $13.2 million deferred each year. This deferred money will be paid in equal installments every July 1 from 2035 to 2046.

“It just played out the way that people around me felt comfortable with,” Snell said. “I felt comfortable with. They felt comfortable with. We talked. Found something that could work for both of us and it’s kind of how we went with it. But, yeah, I’m more focused on playing than money.”

The Dodgers also have a $10 million conditional option for 2023, which could be exercised if Snell suffers a qualifying injury and stays on the injured list for 90 or more days. If Snell is traded, the new team will pay a $5 million assignment bonus.

Edman’s contract includes a $17 million signing bonus, payable on December 10, a $5 million salary for next year, and $12.25 million in each of the final four seasons, with $6.25 million deferred annually. The Dodgers have a $13 million option for 2030 with a $3 million buyout.

The deferred money for Edman will be paid in three installments each year, with each payment due on July 1:

For 2026, $2.5 million will be paid in 2035 and 2036, with $1.25 million in 2037.
For 2027, $1.25 million will be paid in 2037, and $2.5 million in 2038 and 2039.
For 2028, $2.5 million will be paid in 2040 and 2041, with $1.25 million in 2042.
For 2029, $1.25 million will be paid in 2042, and $2.5 million in 2043 and 2044.

Both Snell and Edman will donate 1% of their salary to charity.

Shohei Ohtani, the two-way star, is set to receive $680 million from 2034 to 2043 as part of his record-breaking $700 million, 10-year contract that runs through 2033.

Friedman explained, “I think the Shohei one was just very extreme. But if you set the Shohei contract aside, the rest are all within the norm and standard operating procedure that a lot of teams have done. But I think the Shohei one is just jarring to people because it’s so different and I think that the others just unfairly get lumped into that, but I think it’s kind of a lazy narrative.”

Several other players are also owed deferred money, including infielder/outfielder Mookie Betts, who is due $115 million in salaries from 2033 to 2044, as part of his $365 million, 12-year deal.

First baseman Freddie Freeman is owed $57 million from 2028 to 2040 as part of his $162 million, six-year contract. Catcher Will Smith will receive $50 million from 2034 to 2043 as part of a $140 million, 10-year deal. Outfielder Teoscar Hernández is owed $8.5 million from 2030 to 2039, as part of his $23.5 million, one-year contract for 2024.

Friedman noted, “I think a little bit with having a number of our kind of star players with deferrals, I think has made it something that guys have no issue with and in some cases may even desire. At times where we’ve gotten to a little bit of an impasse on a deal and either their side’s brought it up or us, at times it’s really helped provide — helped close that last mile.”

Tags Los Angeles Dodgers, MLB

MLB (Baseball)

Blake Snell, a two-time Cy Young winner, found it simple to choose the Dodgers for his next team

Post author By James Brown
Post date December 4, 2024
No Comments on Blake Snell, a two-time Cy Young winner, found it simple to choose the Dodgers for his next team

Blake Snell, a two-time Cy Young Award winner, says it was an easy choice to join the Los Angeles Dodgers, the World Series champions, and that the presence of three-time MVP Shohei Ohtani played a role in his decision.

Snell was introduced on Tuesday at Dodger Stadium with his agent Scott Boras. He finalized a five-year contract worth $182 million last Saturday.

“It was really easy just cause me and Haeley wanted to live here, it’s something we’ve been talking about for a while,” Snell said, referring to his girlfriend. “Then 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.”

Last month, Snell chose to opt out of his deal with San Francisco and became a free agent for the second year in a row, after an injury-ridden year with the Giants.

Snell will receive a $52 million signing bonus, payable on January 25, and annual salaries of $26 million, with $13.2 million of that being deferred each year. Since Snell lives in Washington state, the signing bonus won’t be taxed in California.

“It just played out the way that people around me felt comfortable with, I felt comfortable with, they felt comfortable with,” Snell said. “We talked and found something that could work for both of us. You want your worth, you want your respect, and you want enough time to where you can really make a name for yourself. I’ve made a name for myself outside of LA, but I’m going to be invested.”

Ohtani, who signed a record $700 million, 10-year deal with the Dodgers a year ago, had a historic first season. He helped the Dodgers win their eighth World Series while only playing as a designated hitter, and he won the National League MVP after winning the award twice in the American League.

“It helps with him in the lineup for sure. That’s big motivation,” Snell said. “You want to be around players like that when you’re trying to be one of the best in the game. Yeah, it played a big part.”

Snell will join Ohtani and Japanese right-hander Yoshinobu Yamamoto at the top of the Dodgers’ pitching rotation. All-Star Tyler Glasnow will return after his first season with the Dodgers was cut short by a sprained elbow.

Ohtani, who didn’t pitch this year while recovering from right elbow surgery, is expected to return to pitching in 2025.

The rest of the rotation includes Tony Gonsolin, Landon Knack, Dustin May, Bobby Miller, and Emmet Sheehan.

“I pitched on six-man, five-man, four-man rotations,” Snell said. “I’m good with it all as long as we have a plan, we’ll execute it.”

Snell, who turns 32 on Wednesday, finished this season with a 5-3 record and a 3.12 ERA in 20 starts. He threw a no-hitter against Cincinnati on August 2, one of only 16 shutouts in the major leagues this season. He struck out 145 and walked 44 in 104 innings.

He was sidelined twice due to injuries, first from April 19 to May 22 with a strained left adductor and then from June 2 to July 9 with a strained left groin.

Snell won his first Cy Young Award in 2018 with Tampa Bay and his second in 2023 with San Diego. In his nine seasons with the Rays (2016-2020), Padres (2021-2023), and Giants, he has a 76-58 record and a 3.19 ERA.

He has known Andrew Friedman, the Dodgers president of baseball operations, since he was 18.

After the Dodgers won the World Series and discussed how they could repeat next year, Friedman said, “All conversations kept coming back to Blake.”

“Usually in major league free agency, you’re buying the backside of a guy’s career, the accomplishments that they have had,” Friedman said. “With Blake, one thing that’s really exciting for us is, as much success as he’s had, we feel like there’s more in there.”

Snell has a 2-2 career record against the Dodgers.

“We couldn’t beat him, so we’re going to have him join us,” Friedman said.

Tags Los Angeles Dodgers

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The Dodgers have revealed a five-year deal with left-handed pitcher Blake Snell

Post author By James Brown
Post date December 2, 2024
No Comments on The Dodgers have revealed a five-year deal with left-handed pitcher Blake Snell

Blake Snell and the Los Angeles Dodgers have completed a $182 million, five-year contract.

The current World Series champions announced the agreement with the two-time Cy Young Award winner on Saturday.

Snell, who will turn 32 on Wednesday, finished this year with a 5-3 record and a 3.12 ERA in 20 starts for San Francisco. He threw a no-hitter against Cincinnati on August 2, which was one of only 16 individual shutouts in Major League Baseball this season. The left-hander also struck out 145 batters and walked 44 in 104 innings.

He missed time between April 19 and May 22 due to a strained left adductor and again between June 2 and July 9 because of a strained left groin.

Snell’s contract includes a $52 million signing bonus, which will be paid on January 20, and annual salaries of $26 million. Of that amount, $13 million each year will be deferred. Since Snell lives in Washington state, the signing bonus won’t be subject to California state income tax.

Snell will join Shohei Ohtani and Yoshinobu Yamamoto at the top of the Dodgers’ pitching rotation. Ohtani, who didn’t pitch this year due to recovering from right elbow surgery, is expected to return to the mound in 2025.

Snell won Cy Young Awards in 2018 with Tampa Bay and in 2023 with San Diego. Over nine seasons with the Rays (2016-2020), Padres (2021-2023), and Giants, he has a career record of 76-58 with a 3.19 ERA.

Since he declined a qualifying offer from San Diego last November, the Giants were not able to offer him another qualifying offer and will not receive any draft-pick compensation.

Tags Los Angeles Dodgers

MLB (Baseball)

Blake Snell and the Dodgers have reached a five-year deal worth $182 million

Post author By Christopher Harris
Post date November 27, 2024
No Comments on Blake Snell and the Dodgers have reached a five-year deal worth $182 million

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.

Blake Snell walks into the field in the 9th inning

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.

Blake Snell talks to Patrick Bailey in the 5th inning

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.

Tags Los Angeles Dodgers, MLB