Snell: WS run left arm 'exhausted,' will ramp up slowly in spring

The Los Angeles Dodgers' pursuit of a second straight World Series title appeared to take everything out of Blake Snell.

The two-time Cy Young winner admitted Thursday that pitching 34 innings during L.A.'s championship run left his arm "tired" and "exhausted," according to Jack Harris of the California Post. As a result, Snell is taking a cautious approach, as he and the Dodgers have reportedly decided to have him ease into his offseason throwing program.

While Snell insists he'll be ready for Opening Day, people within the organization don't consider it a guarantee, according to Harris.

"You want to ramp up, but I gotta take my time and get healthy," Snell told Harris. "I feel like I'm doing the right thing. I feel good. I've been throwing. It feels better. In the postseason, I gave everything I had for that. But on the front end of spring, I'll have to be patient and let my body get to 100%.

"That's what I'm learning talking with (the team). Don't rush. Be patient. Make sure you're 100%. And that's what's awesome about the organization. They really are focused on your health and well-being."

Snell, who joined the Dodgers last offseason on a five-year, $182-million deal, made just 11 regular-season starts in 2025 due to a shoulder injury. But the setback left him well-rested for the postseason, where he put up a 3.18 ERA and 1.00 WHIP with 41 strikeouts over six appearances.

The 33-year-old delivered dominant starts in the wild-card series, NLDS, and NLCS, allowing only two earned runs combined. However, Snell struggled in Games 1 and 5 of the World Series against the Toronto Blue Jays, surrendering 10 runs across the two starts.

Still, he was available for the epic Game 7 at Rogers Centre, emerging from the bullpen to toss 1 1/3 scoreless innings on two days' rest to set up the Dodgers' comeback. Snell handed the ball in the bottom of the ninth to fellow starter Yoshinobu Yamamoto, who delivered a performance for the ages on no rest to successfully defend L.A.'s championship.

"I was happy I was able to pitch the whole time," Snell told Harris. "But it was tough."

Snell isn't the only Dodgers veteran facing questions about his status in 2026. Yamamoto, also pushed to his limit in Game 7, is ramping up early to prepare for the World Baseball Classic, where he'll be Japan's ace. He threw 211 innings in 2025.

Shohei Ohtani, meanwhile, is preparing for his first full season as a two-way player since 2023. Manager Dave Roberts said the four-time MVP may be given "six, seven, (or even) eight days off" between starts to help maintain his arm, according to Harris.

The Dodgers haven't made a major addition to their rotation this winter, but they're likely to try phenom Roki Sasaki - who excelled in relief during the playoffs - as a starter again. River Ryan, Kyle Hurt, Justin Wrobleski, Gavin Stone, and Landon Knack are also on the 40-man roster as depth options.