What Does the Dodgers’ Blake Snell Signing Mean for Walker Buehler, Jack Flaherty?
The Los Angeles Dodgers solidified their rotation late Tuesday night when they agreed to a five-year, $182 million deal with two-time Cy Young award winner Blake Snell.
Read more: Dodgers Signing Blake Snell to $182 Million Blockbuster Deal
Snell is coming off a 2024 season with the San Francisco Giants in which he had a 3.12 ERA across 20 starts, but was one of the best pitchers in baseball in the second half, sporting a 1.45 ERA across his final 12 starts.
With the addition of Snell, the Dodgers rotation is arguably the best in baseball with four No. 1 starters. Snell, Yoshinobu Yamamoto, Tyler Glasnow, and Shohei Ohtani are all aces, and all four are expected to lead the Dodgers rotation in 2025 and beyond.
After those four, the Dodgers have a handful of options for the bottom of the rotation. Tony Gonsolin told Dodgers Nation he’s 100 percent healthy heading into next season, and Dustin May and Bobby Miller remain options, too. Additionally, the Dodgers are widely expected to re-sign Clayton Kershaw this offseason, although he’s likely to have a late start to the season after undergoing multiple surgeries this offseason.
Along with all that starting pitching depth, the Dodgers are considered the favorites to sign Japanese superstar Roki Sasaki, who isn’t expected to sign until after Jan. 15. If they add Sasaki, the Dodgers would almost have too many starting pitching options entering the 2025 season.
Because of that, the Snell signing puts the L.A. futures of free agents Walker Buehler and Jack Flaherty in jeopardy. The Dodgers are highly unlikely to bring back Flaherty, who’s expected to command a big contract, especially after Snell and Yusei Kikuchi set the market. Buehler is a bit of a different story, as he’s not expected to cash in on a big deal. Still, the Dodgers likely don’t see Buehler as a big need now, especially if they feel good about their chances to add Sasaki.
MLB Network’s Jon Morosi added more on the futures of Flaherty and Buehler following the Snell signing.
“It probably — not certainly — it probably means that Walker Buehler, Jack Flaherty won’t be back in 2025, based on the market dynamics,” Morosi said. “You’re basically trading Flaherty and Buehler out for Snell and Ohtani in.”
While Flaherty appears to be as good as gone, there is still a chance the Dodgers bring back Buehler to be the No. 6 starter. However, Buehler may decide he prefers an opportunity where he can be a top of the rotation starter as opposed to someone who may not get consistent opportunities unless there are injuries atop the rotation.
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1. Snell 2. Glasnow 3. Yamamoto 4. Ohtani 5. Sasaki [those 5 will all be under contract from 2028 or even much longer] 6. Gonsolin 7. Kershaw 8. May 9 Miller [3 arbitration years] 10 Sheehan [5 years of control] 11. Knack [5 years of control] 12. Casperious [5+ years of control] 13. Wrobleski [5+ years of control] Then coming in 2006 14. River Ryan [5+ years of control] 15. Gavin Stone [5 years of control] 16. Kyle Hurt [6 years of control] 17. Jackson Ferris [6 years of control] and still others unknown
So where is the room for Buehler, Crochet?
Seven man rotation! ?
Buehler is a proven big game pitcher…Dodgers need to bring him back.
ohtani isn’t pitching 30 starts, Sasaki sure as hell isn’t starting right now. Buehler could sign for 32 mill for 2 years if do it in a heart beat!
A six man rotation is imperative, not only to add depth but to mitigate injury. This particular group is especially injury prone.
The way the Dodgers teach spin and this pitcher group is a recipe for landing on the DL.
As this season showed, you can never have too much starting pitching. Plenty of room for Buehler. He would rank no lower than 5, even if Sasaki signs. Gonsolin has a lot to prove and Dustin May should be moved to the bullpen.
As we have seen and we all know, you can’t have too many pitchers.