The Los Angeles Dodgers are not resting on their laurels as they signed two-time Cy Young Award winner Blake Snell to a five-year $182 million contract last night. Los Angeles is coming off a World Series title where they defeated the New York Yankees fairly easily in five games. Snell joins a starting rotation that includes Shohei Ohtani, Yoshinobu Yamamoto, Tyler Glasnow, and Dustin May among more.
Los Angeles is also reportedly eyeing bringing back Starting Pitchers Clayton Kershaw and Walker Buehler who are both free agents this offseason. On their run to the World Series last season, the Los Angeles Dodgers were led by their offense instead of their pitching staff. Los Angeles was ninth of 12 teams with a 4.50 Postseason ERA and seventh in opposing batting average. How much of a jolt will Snell give the Los Angeles Dodgers in 2025 and beyond?
Los Angeles Dodgers Get a Quality Arm To Improve Rotation
It was a feat of managerial excellence that Dodgers Skipper Dave Roberts guided this team to a championship given their pitching woes. Roberts had only three healthy starting pitchers for the MLB Playoffs as Los Angeles was forced to use bullpen games in each postseason round. Los Angeles showcased their bullpen depth in Game 4 of the NLDS on the brink of elimination against the San Diego Padres. They would win the game 8-0.
The Dodgers were forced to turn the bullpen again in Game 4 of the NLCS against the New York Mets and Game 4 of the World Series against the New York Yankees. The injuries to LA’s pitching staff were extreme at times in 2024. Kershaw was limited to only seven starts, Glasnow was sidelined since August with an elbow injury, and Tony Gonsolin missed the entire season due to Tommy John Surgery. Los Angeles had 12 pitchers hit the IL last season.
Final Thoughts
Shortstop Mookie Betts believes the Los Angeles Dodgers are on the precipice of a dynasty. Their latest move signals they will spare no expense as it pertains to building a championship contender. According to MLB Insider Jon Heyman, Los Angeles signing Snell does not take the team out of the Juan Soto sweepstakes.
Los Angeles is building a tremendous roster and will be the prohibitive favorite to win the 2025 World Series. The team is not done signing starting pitchers as that was the weak link of their ballclub last season. The Los Angeles Dodgers improved their roster substantially by signing Snell to a lucrative five-year contract. The rich are only getting richer and the other 29 MLB teams are on notice that the Dodgers have no plans of slowing down.
