Offseason Moves Heating Up in Los Angeles and Beyond
The Los Angeles Dodgers are hungry to defend their World Series title and wasted no time making significant moves during the Thanksgiving week of the offseason.
To bolster their already impressive rotation, the Dodgers snagged left-handed pitcher Blake Snell, one of the top starting pitchers available. Snell’s five-year, $182 million deal brings the soon-to-be 32-year-old to a team that already boasts stars like Shohei Ohtani, Tyler Glasnow and Yoshinobu Yamamoto.
Snell’s 2024 season with the San Diego Padres was marked by a strong finish after battling some early-season adversity. Over his final 14 starts, Snell was perfect, going 5-0 with a ridiculous 1.23 ERA. He kept batters off balance all year, holding opponents to a .123/.211/.171 batting line.
The highlight of Snell’s season came on August 2nd against the Cincinnati Reds, when he delivered a commanding no-hitter, striking out 11 batters along the way. Overall, Snell went 5-3 with a 3.12 ERA and 145 strikeouts in 104 innings across 20 starts.
In addition to adding a high-caliber free agent, the Dodgers solidified their roster by extending utilityman Tommy Edman’s contract. Edman and the Dodgers agreed to a five-year, $74 million deal that includes a club option for 2030.
Edman’s time with the Dodgers got off to a bit of a slow start; he was sidelined for most of the 2024 season after being acquired from the Cardinals at the trade deadline. During the regular season, Edman hit .237 with a .711 OPS, belting six home runs and driving in 20 runs in 37 games.
When it mattered most, the 29-year-old stepped up. Edman emerged as a postseason hero, earning NLCS MVP honors after hitting .407 and driving in 11 runs in six games to help the Dodgers punch their ticket to the World Series.
The Los Angeles Angles weren’t the only team busy in Los Angeles during the offseason.
They made a splash by acquiring left-handed pitcher Yusei Kikuchi, signing him to a three-year, $63 million contract. 33-year-old Kikuchi split his 2024 season between the Toronto Blue Jays and Houston Astros, finishing the year with a 9-10 record, a 4.05 ERA, and a career-high 206 strikeouts over 175.2 innings and 32 starts.
The Angels continue to be one of the most aggressive teams this offseason. Besides Kikuchi, they have already added Jorge Soler, Kyle Hendricks, Travis d’Arnaud, Kevin Newman, and Scott Kingery to their roster.
Chicago Cubs fans have reason to be excited about the team’s new addition to the coaching staff. According to ESPN’s Jesse Rogers in a recent radio interview, the Cubs are expected to hire Andy Haines for an undisclosed role.
Haines spent the past three seasons as the hitting coach for the Pittsburgh Pirates. Prior to that, he served as hitting coach for the Milwaukee Brewers under current Cubs manager Craig Counsell.
The Pirates replaced Haines with Matt Hague earlier this offseason.
What are the Dodgers’ ambitions for next season, given their recent acquisition of Blake Snell?
## Offseason Moves Heating Up in Los Angeles: An Interview
**Host:** Welcome back to the show, folks! The offseason is in full swing and we’ve got some major shakeups already. Joining us today is baseball analyst Mike Jones to break down the Los Angeles Dodgers’ big moves. Mike, welcome!
**Mike Jones:** Thanks for having me!
**Host:** Let’s dive right in. The Dodgers have been busy, to say the least. They landed Blake Snell, a powerhouse left-hander, on a hefty five-year deal. What does this move say about the Dodgers’ ambitions for next season?
**Mike Jones:** This screams ”repeat!”. The Dodgers are clearly going all-in to defend their World Series title. Snell was one of the most sought-after free agents, coming off a season where he really turned it around in the second half. He might have struggled early in 2024, but that final stretch, including that no-hitter against the Reds, reminded everyone what he’s capable of. [1](https://www.cbssports.com/mlb/news/blake-snell-to-sign-with-dodgers-world-series-champs-add-cy-young-winner-on-five-year-182m-deal/)
**Host:** A no-hitter, impressive indeed! Now, adding Snell to a rotation that already boasts names like Ohtani, Glasnow, and Yamamoto is absolutely scary. Do you think this is the best rotation in baseball right now?
**Mike Jones:** It’s definitely up there. Ohtani’s unique skillset, Glasnow’s power, Yamamoto’s dominance—and now Snell’s experience and grit—that’s a terrifying combination for any opposing lineup.
**Host:** And you mentioned experience. How big of a factor is that going to be for Snell with such a young, but undeniably talented, Dodgers squad?
**Mike Jones:** He brings that veteran presence that can be invaluable come playoff time. He’s been there before, he knows what it takes to win, and he can help guide those younger guys.
**Host:** Awesome insight, Mike. We’ll be watching closely to see how these moves play out in the coming season. Thanks for breaking it down for us today.
**Mike Jones:** My pleasure!
