Blake Snell: Analyzing the Move to Dodgers 

The Los Angeles Dodgers made a significant splash this offseason by signing two-time Cy Young Award winner Blake Snell to a five-year, $182 million contract. This move strengthens their starting rotation, a key area of focus for the defending World Series champions.

Snell’s Career and Recent Performance

Blake Snell, 31, enters his second free agent season after opting out of the final year of his two-year, $62 million deal with the San Francisco Giants. Though Snell struggled early in 2024 with a 9.51 ERA over his first six starts, he rebounded impressively. By the end of the season, Snell had posted a remarkable 1.23 ERA over his final 14 starts, including a no-hitter in August. This resurgence mirrored his late-season dominance in 2023, where he posted a 1.20 ERA over his final 23 starts, winning the National League Cy Young Award. Snell has accumulated a 3.19 ERA and 11.2 strikeouts per nine innings over his nine-year career with the Rays, Padres, and Giants.

Dodgers’ Rotation Boost

The Dodgers’ priority this winter was securing an ace for their rotation, and they found their target in Snell. After previously pursuing him during free agency and at the trade deadline, Los Angeles finally landed the lefty. Snell will join an already impressive rotation that includes Yoshinobu Yamamoto, Tyler Glasnow, and possibly Shohei Ohtani. The addition of Snell signals a significant upgrade from last season, as the Dodgers seek to bolster their pitching staff further, with Roki Sasaki being one of their top remaining targets.

Giants Left Searching

For the San Francisco Giants, losing Snell to their division rival is a major setback. With ace Logan Webb as the team’s only sure thing, the Giants now face uncertainty in their rotation. Former Cy Young winner Robbie Ray will need to step up following his return from Tommy John surgery. San Francisco could also look to the free-agent market to replace Snell’s impact, particularly considering their previous interest in top free agents.

Hot Stove Impact

Snell’s move to the Dodgers could spark a chain reaction across the free-agent market. Teams like the Yankees, Red Sox, and Orioles were pursuing Snell, and with him off the board, those clubs will shift their attention elsewhere. The Yankees and Red Sox, both in need of a left-handed starter, could enter a bid war for Max Fried. Meanwhile, the Orioles, who may lose ace Corbin Burnes, are expected to turn their focus toward other free agents, including Jack Flaherty and Nathan Eovaldi. The Giants, now scrambling to replace Snell, are reportedly eyeing Burnes as a potential acquisition.

Blake Snell’s decision to sign with the Dodgers significantly impacts the pitching landscape, and this move is poised to shape the upcoming MLB season in more ways than one.