Blake Snell 2025 Fantasy Baseball Outlook: A Gamble Worth Taking
3 months agoBlake Snell tried his hand at free agency again this offseason and it paid dividends for him this time, as the lanky lefty inked a five-year, $182 million dollar deal with the Dodgers. Snell was fantastic last season—when he played, that is. Snell put up an incredible 12.55 K/9, 3.12 ERA, and 2.43 FIP, but he only pitched 104 innings between injured list stints. Isn't that the rub with Snell? He's made 30 or more starts just twice in his career, but he won the Cy Young both times. Even at 32 Snell is showing strong velocity and movement on his pitches and shows no signs of slowing down. So, where do we draft him, then? It comes down to risk tolerance and how one manages their team, but for savvy managers it may be worth taking the risk. Snell has SP1 upside when he's right, and savvy managers know how to stream starters effectively when he's out. His new team may be of concern, as the Dodgers tend to play it safe with their starters when it comes to injuries, but when he's out there we can trust Snell. He's currently going around pick 50 in NFBC drafts, which is fair value for Snell.
Blake Snell Placed On 15-Day Injured List
1 day agoThe Los Angeles Dodgers have placed starting pitcher Blake Snell (shoulder) on the 15-day injured list due to left shoulder inflammation. The Dodgers recalled right-handed pitcher Matt Sauer from Triple-A Oklahoma City in a corresponding move. Snell has had a difficult start to his Dodger tenure, holding an underwhelming 8:4 BB:K across his first nine innings of work. In his last start against the Atlanta Braves, Snell allowed five runs (none earned) and served up four walks while striking out just two batters. The Dodgers did not provide a definitive timeline for his recovery. However, with Snell sidelined, fantasy managers should expect the Dodgers to either stretch out their bullpen arms or potentially promote another arm from the minor leagues. Currently, the Dodgers only have four healthy starters in their rotation, with Shohei Ohtani (elbow) still increasing his workload and Tony Gonsolin (back) on the 15-day IL. However, Gonsolin has recently begun a rehab assignment, which could open the door for him to return to the majors later next week.
Source: Los Angeles Dodgers
Source: Los Angeles Dodgers
Blake Snell Starting For The Dodgers On Thursday
2 weeks agoLos Angeles Dodgers left-hander Blake Snell is getting the nod to start their home opener on Thursday, March 27, as the Dodgers face off against Tarik Skubal and the Detroit Tigers. The matchup is poised to be good, as two outstanding southpaws and Cy Young-winning pitchers will face off. Last season, Snell went 5-3 with a 3.12 ERA in 104 innings pitched with the Giants. It was a solid campaign for Snell, who owned an incredible 12.55 K/9. He will look to stay healthy this year, as he dealt with a handful of injuries last year, preventing him from getting his full workload. Snell's metrics are off the charts, with most ranking in the 80th percentile or higher, but his 10.5% walk rate always leaves room for improvement. Fantasy managers can confidently start Snell. He is one of the most electric pitchers in the game and is backed by a potent offense.
Source: David Vassegh
Source: David Vassegh
Blake Snell, Dodgers Agree On Five-Year, $182 Million Deal
4 months agoFree-agent left-hander Blake Snell will stay in the National League West after agreeing to a five-year, $182 million deal on Tuesday night with the Los Angeles Dodgers, according to sources. The deal is pending a physical. It's the first nine-figure deal of the MLB offseason, with the World Series-champion Dodgers locking down the two-time Cy Young winner. The 31-year-old southpaw signed with the San Francisco Giants at the end of spring training and had a rough start to the 2024 campaign while not being 100% healthy, but he eventually bounced back when he was fully healthy and went 5-3 with a 3.12 ERA, 1.05 WHIP, 145 strikeouts and 44 walks in 104 innings over his 20 starts. Snell can be wild -- career 10.9% walk rate -- but his career 30.2% strikeout rate pretty much offsets it to make him a fantasy ace who will be in another good situation in LA while joining a strong starting rotation that will include Shohei Ohtani, Tyler Glasnow and Yoshinobu Yamamoto in 2025. UPDATE: Snell received a $52 million signing bonus and will make $26 million each year, with $13.2 million deferred without interest each year from 2025-2029. The deal also includes a club option for $10 million in 2030, and Snell will receive $5 million if he's traded.
Source: ESPN.com - Jeff Passan
Source: ESPN.com - Jeff Passan
Blake Snell Has Met With Red Sox, Dodgers
5 months agoFree-agent left-hander Blake Snell recently met with the Boston Red Sox and Los Angeles Dodgers, according to sources with knowledge of the talks. It's also possible that Snell met, or will meet, with the Baltimore Orioles, Toronto Blue Jays and other teams looking for a high-end starter this offseason. He did not sign until March 19 with the San Francisco Giants in 2024, so Snell is surely looking to land with a team sooner than he did a year ago. The soon-to-be 32-year-old is older than both Max Fried and Corbin Burnes, the other two high-profile free-agent starters on the market. However, unlike Fried and Burnes, he wasn't given a qualifying offer, so a team that signs him won't have to give up draft-pick compensation. Snell got off to a slow start in 2024 and dealt with injuries, but he once again finished strong and exercised an opt-out clause to once again become a free agent.
Source: The Athletic - Ken Rosenthal
Source: The Athletic - Ken Rosenthal
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