Dodgers kickstart offseason with major signing: Blake Snell lands $182 million deal

The Los Angeles Dodgers wasted no time in shaping their offseason plans, starting with a high-profile move that set the tone for what’s ahead. On November 26, the Dodgers officially signed two-time Cy Young Award winner Blake Snell to a five-year, $182 million contract. This move was more than just a splashy addition; it signaled the Dodgers' desire to shore up their starting rotation after a season where their pitching staff was plagued by injuries, forcing them to rely on bullpen games in critical moments during their World Series run.

Despite their success, including a championship title, the Dodgers understood the need for stability at the top of their pitching staff. They had identified Snell as a priority early on, not because of his former success with division rival San Diego Padres, but because they recognized his ability to provide the certainty they lacked last season. Snell, who had a standout 2023 season with the Padres and a dominant second half with the San Francisco Giants in 2024, was seen as an ideal fit for their needs.

The deal was the result of discussions between Dodgers president of baseball operations, Andrew Friedman, and Snell's agent, Scott Boras, which began in early November. It took some creativity to get the deal across the line. In addition to the $182 million contract, Snell will receive a $52 million signing bonus, with $66 million of the salary deferred. This flexibility allowed both sides to find common ground, marking a successful start to what promises to be an active offseason for the Dodgers.

The signing of Snell provides the Dodgers with a pitcher who can lead their rotation, something they lacked in 2024. His addition, paired with another high-profile move the Dodgers are expected to make, would give the team a pitching staff to match their already potent lineup. With Snell at the helm, the Dodgers are poised for another highly competitive season in 2025.

This deal also represents a shift in the market. The offseason leading up to Snell’s signing had been slow, particularly for Scott Boras’s clients. In the previous year, players like Snell, Matt Chapman, Cody Bellinger, and Jordan Montgomery didn’t sign until late into spring training. Boras attributed this delay to a market that was unwilling to spend big. However, Snell’s contract indicated that this offseason could be different. It set off a chain of events, triggering a wave of expensive starting-pitching contracts, showing that the market had warmed up and teams were willing to open their wallets for top-tier talent. This trend would likely continue in the weeks to follow, shaping the rest of the winter's moves.