What Does the Dodgers’ Blake Snell Signing Mean for Walker Buehler, Jack Flaherty?

The Los Angeles Dodgers solidified their rotation late Tuesday evening after they agreed to a five-year, $182 million cope with two-time Cy Younger award winner Blake Snell.

Learn extra: Dodgers Signing Blake Snell to $182 Million Blockbuster Deal

Snell is coming off a 2024 season with the San Francisco Giants through which he had a 3.12 ERA throughout 20 begins, however was top-of-the-line pitchers in baseball within the second half, sporting a 1.45 ERA throughout his remaining 12 begins.

With the addition of Snell, the Dodgers rotation is arguably the perfect in baseball with 4 No. 1 starters. Snell, Yoshinobu Yamamoto, Tyler Glasnow, and Shohei Ohtani are all aces, and all 4 are anticipated to steer the Dodgers rotation in 2025 and past.

After these 4, the Dodgers have a handful of choices for the underside of the rotation. Tony Gonsolin instructed Dodgers Nation he’s 100% wholesome heading into subsequent season, and Dustin Might and Bobby Miller stay choices, too. Moreover, the Dodgers are broadly anticipated to re-sign Clayton Kershaw this offseason, though he’s prone to have a late begin to the season after present process a number of surgical procedures this offseason.

Together with all that beginning pitching depth, the Dodgers are thought of the favorites to signal Japanese famous person Roki Sasaki, who isn’t anticipated to signal till after Jan. 15. In the event that they add Sasaki, the Dodgers would virtually have too many beginning pitching choices coming into the 2025 season.

Due to that, the Snell signing places the L.A. futures of free brokers Walker Buehler and Jack Flaherty in jeopardy. The Dodgers are extremely unlikely to deliver again Flaherty, who’s anticipated to command a giant contract, particularly after Snell and Yusei Kikuchi set the market. Buehler is a little bit of a special story, as he’s not anticipated to money in on a giant deal. Nonetheless, the Dodgers doubtless don’t see Buehler as a giant want now, particularly in the event that they be ok with their probabilities so as to add Sasaki.

MLB Community’s Jon Morosi added extra on the futures of Flaherty and Buehler following the Snell signing.

“It most likely — not definitely — it most likely implies that Walker Buehler, Jack Flaherty gained’t be again in 2025, based mostly in the marketplace dynamics,” Morosi stated. “You’re principally buying and selling Flaherty and Buehler out for Snell and Ohtani in.”