The smell of a scam is in the air.
Last November, Blake Snell, a Cy Young Award winner, signed a five-year contract for $182 million (approximately 265.9 billion won) with the Los Angeles Dodgers and has been placed on the injured list due to left shoulder pain.
According to a report by Major League Baseball's official website, MLB.com, on the 7th (Korean time), the Dodgers placed Snell on the injured list ahead of their away game against the Philadelphia Phillies.
Snell has pitched in 2 games this season, recording 1 win, no losses, and an earned run average of 2.00. Snell, who reported his first win of the season against the Detroit Tigers on the 28th of last month with 5 innings, 5 hits allowed, 4 walks, 2 strikeouts, and 2 runs given up, struggled against the Atlanta Braves on the 3rd, allowing 5 runs (5 hits, 4 walks, 2 strikeouts) in 4 innings.
The media noted that “Snell signed a contract for $182 million over five years as a major offseason acquisition for the Dodgers,” adding that “the Dodgers, who suffered difficulties due to a chain of injuries among their starting pitchers last year, urgently needed to bolster their starting rotation. Just two weeks into the season, one of the most anticipated pitchers has landed on the injured list.”
It also added that “Snell, a two-time Cy Young Award winner, previously experienced shoulder and elbow injuries while with the San Francisco Giants last year. However, he showed signs of recovery after the All-Star break and finished the season with an earned run average of 3.12.”
Snell made his Major League debut with the Tampa Bay Rays in 2016 and has since played for the San Diego Padres and the San Francisco Giants, currently performing for the Dodgers this season. His career statistics in Major League Baseball include 213 games, 77 wins, 58 losses, and an earned run average of 3.18.
In 2018, during his time with the Tampa Bay Rays, he achieved a career-high season with 21 wins and 5 losses, posting an earned run average of 1.89. In 2023, while playing for San Diego, he finished with 14 wins and 9 losses and an earned run average of 2.25.
Despite his outstanding performance, Snell has been criticized for his frequent injuries and perceived lack of durability, and he has once again landed on the injured list, raising concerns. The Dodgers' struggles with their starting rotation are expected to continue this year.
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