Los Angeles Dodgers Rumors Reveal 2 Next Targets After Blake Snell Signing

Los Angeles Dodgers rumors
Credit: Kirby Lee-Imagn Images

The Los Angeles Dodgers made the first big splash of MLB free agency, poaching All-Star starting pitcher Blake Snell from the San Francisco Giants and beating out the Baltimore Orioles and Boston Red Sox in a bidding war. Now, MLB rumors are swirling that another big move could be on the horizon.

Related: 4 MLB teams in the mix for Garrett Crochet trade, including the Dodgers

Fresh off winning a World Series title, the Dodgers front office made it clear this offseason that they wanted to add more talent. Starting pitching proved to be an issue this past season and with Tyler Glasnow and Shohei Ohtani still recovering from elbow injuries, another front-line starter was needed.

Check Out: 8 Perfect Secret Santa Gifts for Chargers Fans

That’s what led Los Angeles to sign Snell to a five-year contract worth $182 million, making him one of the highest-paid MLB players at his position. It’s evidently not going to be the club’s only big move this offseason, with Dodgers rumors shedding light on the team’s next targets.

  • Garrett Crochet stats (ESPN): 3.58 ERA, 1.07 WHIP, 209 strikeouts in 146 innings pitched

MLB rumors: Los Angeles Dodgers eyeing Garrett Crochet, Roki Sasaki

Jon Heyman recently reported on Bleacher Report that the Dodgers are still actively involved in a pursuit of Chicago White Sox starting pitcher Garrett Crochet even after the Snell signing. While Los Angeles faces significant competition for him and now has less of a need, the interest in Crochet is still very real.

Related: Los Angeles Dodgers rumors reveal two players team pursuing new deals with

  • Garrett Crochet contract (Spotrac): Arbitration-eligible for 2025-’26

Strengthening the Dodgers’ chances is the fact that the White Sox front office already knows this farm system well, stemming from their trade talks that led to the Michael Kopech deal during the summer. Chicago is known to be looking for position player prospects, which the Dodgers have.

Meanwhile, Heyman wrote in the New York Post previously reported the Dodgers’ intentions of adding one of the top front-line starting pitchers available this offseason in addition to signing Japanese starting pitcher Roki Sasaki.

Related: Dodgers Free Agency Predictions

  • Roki Sasaki stats 2024 (Baseball Reference): 2.35 ERA, 1.04 WHIP, 4.03 K/BB, 10.5 K/9, 6.7 H/9, 0.2 HR/9 in 111 innings pitched

The Dodgers have long been viewed as the favorites to land Sasaki, even with the Japanese phenom’s agent pushing back on MLB rumors suggesting a contract is in place. Considering how much of the Dodgers payroll is now committed to the likes of Snell, Mookie Betts, Freddie Freeman and so many others, a cost-controlled starter like Sasaki might make the most sense for Los Angeles.

While a package of the Dodgers top prospects would certainly be enough to land Crochet, there’s a strong case to be made that signing Sasaki is the most cost-effective option. Crochet is only under contract for two more seasons, while the Dodgers would have Sasaki under team control for six years.

Related: MLB insider reveals new timeline for Juan Soto signing