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Blake Snell's five-year, $182 million contract with LA came just as fans thought that the Dodgers had accumulated all the talent possible. With the reigning World Series champs set on acquiring even more top-tier talent, Snell has chimed in on the situation.
At the press conference on Tuesday to formally announce the deal, Blake Snell commented on the unprecedented talent invested in his new club. According to insider Bob Nightengale, Snell referred to the team as "stacked" before claiming "I don't think there’s a better situation than being right here.’’
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"New Dodgers starter Blake Snell: ‘I mean, this team is stacked….I don’t think there’s a better situation than being right here.’’ - Bob Nightengale
Snell, who won the 2023 Cy Young Award with the San Diego Padres, is regarded as one of the top starters in MLB. However, many online commenters took umbrage with his claims, accusing Snell of hiding behind his new star-studded roster rather than relying on his capabilities.
Like some other high-profile contracts on the Los Angeles Dodgers, Snell's deal comes with significant deferred payments. According to AP, some $66 million of the $182 million pledge will be deferred, and payable to Blake Snell through July 1, 2046.
"Chasing the $$$" - accused a fan
"You’re watching the end of Major League Baseball" - lamented another
"Taking the easy route" - was another shot at Snell
Some fans drew a comparison between Blake Snell and NBA star Kevin Durant. Durant signed a 2016 deal with the Golden State Warriors, drawing harsh criticism directed at the power forward for comprising a 'super team.' Durant and the Warriors would win the NBA Championship in both 2017 and 2018 before his 2019 move to the Phoenix Suns.
"The new Kevin Durant" - claimed a fan
"Bro thinks he's Kevin Durant" - chortled another
"Ring chaser" - came a final jab
Dodgers defend deferred payments on Blake Snell
The Dodgers have received significant criticism for pioneering the deferred contract, a method that allows them to save tens of millions of dollars in the short term. At the press conference to introduce Snell, president of baseball operations Andrew Friedman defended the strategy:
"You have to fund a lot of it right now, and having that money go to work for you, we have — a lot of our ownership group are from financial background and can have that money going to work right now, and just making it — not something that sneaks up on us. We’re not going to wake up in 2035 and (say): ‘Oh my God, that’s right. We have this money due.’ We’ll plan for it along the way.”
Having tasted World Series play in 2020, it is probable that winning is Snell's top priority. The morals of the tactics notwithstanding, the 32-year-old is in a better position than he ever has been to do that.
