The Dodgers are taking a measured approach with Blake Snell this spring, and given his injury history, it’s hard to blame them. Snell missed a full four months of the regular season last year with shoulder inflammation, and while he told fans at DodgerFest that he’s aiming to be ready for Opening Day, that’s far from a lock.
The team has the luxury of patience here - and a deep enough rotation to afford it. With Yoshinobu Yamamoto, Shohei Ohtani, Tyler Glasnow, and Roki Sasaki all expected to be in the mix, the Dodgers aren’t exactly hurting for high-end arms.
That leaves one rotation spot up for grabs among Emmet Sheehan, Gavin Stone, and River Ryan - three young pitchers who will be competing for a 26-man roster spot during spring training. If Snell isn’t ready out of the gate, it’s likely one of them picks up a few early-season starts, giving the Dodgers a chance to evaluate who’s ready for the long haul.
It’s worth remembering that Snell had his postseason moment last year, even if it didn’t grab the headlines. His eight-inning, one-hit gem against the Brewers in the NLCS was a reminder of just how dominant he can be when he’s locked in. Sure, Yamamoto’s back-to-back complete games stole the spotlight, but Snell’s outing was elite in its own right.
Still, there’s some understandable frustration among fans when it comes to Snell’s workload. After all, he pitched fewer than 100 innings across the regular season and playoffs, while earning close to $28.5 million.
For context, 37-year-old Clayton Kershaw - who’s had his own share of injury battles - managed to throw more innings. That’s not a knock on Snell’s talent, but it does raise questions about value and availability.
The Dodgers are clearly walking a fine line here. Rushing Snell back too soon could risk another setback, and with the depth they’ve built, there’s no need to jeopardize his long-term health.
But paying a pitcher upwards of $36 million a year for a sub-100-inning season? That’s a tough pill to swallow, even for a team with the financial muscle of the Dodgers.
That said, the Dodgers’ front office likely sees the bigger picture. If Snell gives them 11 strong starts a year and shows up in October the way he did last fall, they’ll consider the investment worthwhile. That’s how this roster is built - not just to survive the 162-game grind, but to dominate when the lights are brightest.
Snell may not be ready for Opening Day, but the expectation is that he won’t be far behind. That’s good news for a team with championship aspirations - and for a fanbase eager to see him earn every bit of that contract.
Still, when a pitcher says he was “exhausted” after fewer than 100 innings, it’s going to raise some eyebrows. This isn’t about longing for the days of 250-inning workhorses - it’s about expecting durability and impact from one of the highest-paid arms in the game.
For now, the Dodgers will lean on their depth, keep Snell on a cautious track, and hope that when October rolls around, he’s once again ready to deliver when it matters most.