Blake Snell Joins Dodgers’ Rotation: Immense Talent Meets High-Risk Potential

The Los Angeles Dodgers have made a massive offseason splash, signing Blake Snell to a five-year, $182 million deal. The addition of the two-time Cy Young Award winner strengthens a rotation that is brimming with ace-level talent but also riddled with injury concerns. Let’s break down Snell’s outlook and how this move impacts the Dodgers’ rotation.

Blake Snell’s Potential and Pitfalls

When Blake Snell is at his best, he is nearly untouchable. Over his nine-year MLB career, Snell has shown glimpses of being the best pitcher in the game. His two Cy Young seasons—2018 and 2023—are evidence of this, featuring dominant stretches where he posted 6.2 and 7.1 WAR campaigns. However, consistency has been an issue.

• Snell has worked over 180 innings only twice in his career, both in his Cy Young-winning years. His third-highest total is just 129 ⅓ innings.
• In seven other seasons (excluding his rookie year and the shortened 2020 campaign), Snell has only made one All-Star appearance.

Last season was a microcosm of Snell’s career. A rocky start with a 9.51 ERA through six games led to an IL stint for a groin injury. But his return showcased his brilliance: a 1.23 ERA, 0.78 WHIP, and 114 strikeouts in 80 ⅓ innings over 14 starts. Snell, now 32, will enter 2025 with a full spring training, potentially avoiding last year’s slow start.

The upside of another Cy Young-caliber season is there, but history suggests such performances have been the exception rather than the rule.

Dodgers’ Rotation: Loaded with Talent

Snell is not the only high-upside addition to the Dodgers’ rotation. The team already boasts multiple pitchers with frontline potential:

• Tyler Glasnow: A dominant force when healthy, Glasnow had a career-high 134 innings last season, posting a 3.49 ERA and making his first All-Star appearance.
• Yoshinobu Yamamoto: The rookie phenom flashed ace potential despite being limited by a shoulder injury, delivering a 2.34 ERA across 13 starts in a stellar mid-season stretch.
• Shohei Ohtani: Though coming off elbow surgery, Ohtani’s 2.84 ERA and 1.05 WHIP in three years as a starter underline his value.
• Tony Gonsolin and Dustin May: Both missed the 2024 season due to surgery but have shown ace potential in the past. Gonsolin was 16-1 with a 2.14 ERA in 2022, while May has a career 3.10 ERA.

There are also rumors that the Dodgers are pursuing Roki Sasaki, another high-ceiling pitcher, which would add to their already formidable rotation depth.

The Injury Wildcard

While the Dodgers’ rotation is teeming with talent, it is equally filled with injury risks:

• Snell has surpassed 130 innings only twice in nine seasons.
• Glasnow’s injury history includes multiple stints on the IL, and he was unavailable for the 2024 playoffs.
• Yamamoto worked just 108 ⅔ innings last season, including the postseason.
• Ohtani is recovering from Tommy John surgery, and Gonsolin and May are coming off their own major procedures.

Even younger arms in the Dodgers’ system, such as Bobby Miller, Gavin Stone, and Kyle Hurt, have faced injury setbacks. Not to mention Clayton Kershaw, whose potential return remains uncertain due to ongoing durability issues.

Despite this litany of injuries, the Dodgers found ways to thrive in 2024, navigating a rotation with limited innings yet still winning 98 games and claiming the World Series title.