Why Justin Wilson picked the Red Sox
The Red Sox were reminded late Tuesday night that this free agency thing isn't going to be easy.
Blake Snell, one of the top-of-the-rotation pitchers the Red Sox had been targeting, agreed to terms with the Dodgers as Tuesday turned into Wednesday on the East Coast. According to Mark Feinsand of MLB.com, it is a five-year contract for a guarantee of $182 million, with Jack Harris of the Los Angeles Times reporting Snell will be receiving a $52 million signing bonus.
Fabian Ardaya of The Athletic was first to report that the agreement also includes deferrals that knocks down the annual average value to approximately $33 million.
Snell will be pitching under the deal through his ages 32-36 seasons.
The lefty is coming off a 2024 with the Giants that got off to a tremendously rough start, but finished with a flurry. In his final 14 starts, Snell totaled a 1.23 ERA with opponents managing just a .123 batting average and .382 OPS.
It continues to be an embarrassment of riches for the Dodgers, who will now enter the 2025 season with a starting rotation consisting of Yoshinobu Yamamoto, Shohei Ohtani, Tyler Glasnow and now Snell. It is still believed LA will be the favorites for the services of Japanese ace Roki Sasaki.
As for the Red Sox, they still have plenty of options to acquire the kind of pitcher Snell represented. At the top of the list might be another lefty free agent, Max Fried. Other considerations seem to be righty Corbin Burnes and a potential trade for southpaw Garrett Crochet.
And while the Red Sox continue to put their best foot forward in the Juan Soto Sweepstakes, the move that has always been an offseason priority is getting a top tier starter.