"Dodgers president of baseball operations Andrew Friedman had a connection to Snell dating back to their days with the Tampa Bay Rays. The left-hander was drafted by the Rays in the first round during the 2011 MLB Draft, back when Friedman was still the general manager in Tampa Bay. Friedman's high opinion of Snell, coupled with the fact that the 32-year-old addressed the team's biggest need, made the signing a no-brainer for the Dodgers."
"I've known Blake a long time. Getting a chance to watch that maturation over a 12-year period and seeing that growth, we felt strongly that not only could he help us in the regular season in accomplishing that first goal, but what he would bring to our staff in October. Everyone wants to pitch in October. I think for some it is literally a part of their identity and what they yearn for more than anything. And I think Blake is one of those guys."
The Dodgers signed Blake Snell last offseason to bolster their starting rotation after relying on the bullpen to win the 2024 World Series. Snell was the first high-end starter to sign, though Corbin Burnes and Max Fried later received larger total-money contracts elsewhere. Andrew Friedman had a prior connection to Snell from Tampa Bay, where Snell was a 2011 first-round draft pick while Friedman served as general manager. Friedman valued Snell's October competitiveness and viewed him as the top offseason target. Snell helped power a dominant postseason rotation but encountered difficulty against the Blue Jays, who proved an unfavorable matchup.
Read at Dodger Blue
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