When the Los Angeles Dodgers inked Blake Snell to a five-year, $182 million contract this offseason, they had to know there were risks involved.
At 32 years old, the two-time Cy Young winner has struggled to stay on the field during his 10-year career and missed time in 2024 with a left abductor strain and groin tightness. The Dodgers had a good look at the then-San Francisco Giants starter, and adding him this past winter not only bolstered their star-laden staff but plucked him from their most bitter rivals.
But Snell is on the 60-day injured list with left shoulder inflammation and is not expected to return until sometime in June. Now, he has revealed a potential cause for his latest setback.
Here is what Snell said on AM 570 LA Sports the other day:
The Los Angeles appeal is real, and perhaps Snell felt more eager this spring after his delayed debut last summer due to contract impediments. It’s hard to fault him, even with this revelation, as it is natural for players on pricey deals to want to prove their worth.
However, it is still disappointing not only that Snell did not speak up but that the training staff permitted him to keep pitching.
The Dodgers are still comfortable at 31-19 and first place in a gauntlet of a division, the National League West. So, they do not necessarily need to rush back Snell, nor are they desperate for his services right now.
But, this is a team plagued by injuries, particularly to its arms, and it will need to monitor Snell with the utmost caution.
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