Blake Snell is the first major free agent to find a new home this offseason.
The pitcher reached an agreement with the Los Angeles Dodgers late Tuesday night, according to Jeff Passan. He signed a five-year $182 million contract to join the 2024 World Series winners.
Snell is a two-time Cy Young winner, earning the honor in 2019 with the Tampa Bay Rays and in 2023 with the San Diego Padres. He has a 76-58 record to go along with a 3.19 ERA throughout nine years in MLB.
Snell signed a two-year deal with the San Francisco Giants last offseason but opted out of his contract after a strong season. He went 5-3 with a 3.12 ERA in 20 starts. The lefty struck out 145 batters over 104 innings of work.
The New York Yankees were rumored to be interested in the soon-to-be 32-year-old, but he instead joined the team that knocked them out of the World Series. The Dodgers only had three healthy starters in the postseason, but Jack Flaherty and Walker Buehler are current free agents.
The Yankees used six main starters for their rotation in 2024. The team has made it clear that they want to shake up their pitching staff heading into next year.
The Bronx Bombers will likely turn their attention to the other big-named free-agent starters on the market. Corbin Burnes, Max Fried, and Flaherty are among the top pitchers available this offseason as the Yankees look to get over the hump in 2025.
Casey Fahrer is a 2024 graduate of Syracuse University and a contributor to Inside The Pinstripes. He can be reached at caseyfahrer716@gmail.com.
