$182 million, 5 years, per sources

LOS ANGELES — The Dodgers’ precedence this winter was so as to add an ace to their beginning rotation. They acquired their man on Tuesday.

Blake Snell, a two-time Cy Younger Award winner and one of many high free-agent pitchers available on the market this offseason, has agreed to a five-year, $182 million take care of the World Sequence champions, a number of sources advised MLB.com.

The staff has not confirmed the information, however Snell posted an image of himself carrying a Dodgers uniform on his Instagram account. Snell is scheduled to bear a bodily as quickly as Wednesday.

Earlier than Snell signed a two-year, $62 million take care of the Giants with an opt-out clause in March, the Dodgers had been one of many groups to make a last-minute effort to amass the star left-hander. Los Angeles checked in on Snell once more earlier than the Commerce Deadline as San Francisco fell out of postseason rivalry.

Since then, the Dodgers recognized Snell as their high goal this winter. The 2 sides engaged in discussions as soon as free company opened this month. The deal contains a hefty $52 million signing bonus and contains deferred cash, one thing that has change into extra widespread all through the sport, particularly with the Dodgers.

By becoming a member of Los Angeles, Snell is reunited with president of baseball operations Andrew Friedman, who was the manager vp of baseball operations for the Rays when the lefty was drafted within the first spherical by Tampa Bay in 2011.

Snell joins a beginning rotation that may characteristic Yoshinobu Yamamoto, Tyler Glasnow and Shohei Ohtani. The Dodgers look so as to add one other starter this winter, with Japanese phenom Roki Sasaki among the many many targets. It’s a beginning rotation that’s anticipated to be a lot improved from final season.

Because the 2018 season, not many pitchers have been extra dominant at occasions than Snell.

The left-hander reached free company for the primary time a yr in the past after posting an MLB-leading 2.25 ERA with 234 strikeouts over 180 innings as a member of the Padres in 2023. He was acknowledged because the Nationwide League’s high arm, incomes his second profession Cy Younger Award and changing into simply the seventh pitcher in Main League historical past to win the award in each leagues. He additionally received with the Rays in 2018.

Snell’s 11.2 profession strikeouts per 9 innings is the very best in MLB historical past.

After signing effectively into March and feeling rushed to start out the season, Snell struggled firstly of 2024. With out a common Spring Coaching buildup, Snell posted a 9.51 ERA over his first six begins and made two journeys to the injured listing.

However as soon as he acquired a correct buildup following his second IL stint, Snell continued to dominate on the mound. He put collectively a outstanding stretch with a 1.23 ERA and 114 strikeouts, 30 walks and a .123 batting common in 80 1/3 innings over his closing 14 begins.

His season peaked on Aug. 2, when he struck out 11 in a no-hitter in opposition to the Reds that was additionally the primary full sport of his profession.

Maybe most significantly for Los Angeles, Snell has confirmed that his stuff performs in October. Snell’s most well-known postseason begin got here in opposition to the Dodgers in Sport 6 of the 2020 World Sequence when he was pulled after 5 1/3 dominant innings. The Dodgers rallied for a 3-1 victory as soon as Snell got here out of the sport en path to their first title since 1988.

Now, with Snell within the combine, the Dodgers put themselves in place to change into the primary repeat World Sequence champions in additional than 20 years.