BREAKING: Dodgers sign two-time Cy Young Award winner to another five-year deal
The Dodgers have made another bold move to bolster their pitching staff, agreeing to a five-year, $182 million deal with two-time Cy Young Award winner Blake Snell, pending a physical. The agreement, which includes a $52 million signing bonus and deferred money, was hinted at Tuesday night when Snell shared a photoshopped image of himself in a Dodgers jersey on Instagram, captioned “LA” with an eyeball emoji.
Snell, 31, has established himself as one of the premier left-handed pitchers in baseball over his nine-year career. The Seattle native won the AL Cy Young in 2018 with the Tampa Bay Rays and the NL Cy Young in 2023 with the San Diego Padres. He has compiled a 3.19 ERA and 1,368 strikeouts across 211 career starts, pairing a mid-90s fastball with an elite curveball, changeup, and slider. His 11.2 strikeouts per nine innings mark the highest rate in MLB history.
Durability has been a concern for Snell, as he has only surpassed 130 innings twice, both in his Cy Young seasons. However, his second-half resurgence in 2024—highlighted by a 1.23 ERA over 14 outings, including a no-hitter against the Reds—reaffirmed his place as one of the game’s top arms and made him a coveted free agent.
The Dodgers’ rotation struggled with injuries in 2024 despite headline additions like Shohei Ohtani, Yoshinobu Yamamoto, and Tyler Glasnow. While Ohtani didn’t pitch last season due to Tommy John recovery, Yamamoto and Glasnow both missed significant time, leaving the team to lean on its bullpen and lineup to win the World Series. With plans to implement a six-man rotation next season as Ohtani returns to the mound, the need for another ace became clear, and Snell was a natural fit.
Snell joins a stacked Dodgers rotation that now includes Ohtani, Yamamoto, Glasnow, and other depth options like Tony Gonsolin, Dustin May, and Bobby Miller. The team may still pursue additional pitching, with free agents Jack Flaherty and Walker Buehler expressing interest in re-signing and Japanese star Roki Sasaki also on the market. However, Snell’s signing marks a major step in the Dodgers’ efforts to defend their title with a reinforced pitching staff.