Snell goes to Giants for $62M

Two-time Cy Young Award winner Blake Snell and the San Francisco Giants have agreed to a $62 million, two-year contract, a person familiar with the negotiations told The Associated Press on Monday night.

The person spoke on condition of anonymity because the agreement was subject to a successful physical. Snell has the right to opt out after this season and become a free agent.

Snell gets a $17 million signing bonus payable on Jan. 15, 2026, and a $15 million salary this year. He would get $30 million if he keeps the contract for 2025.

A 30-year-old left-hander, Snell is 71-55 with a 3.20 ERA in 191 starts over eight major league seasons, winning Cy Youngs in 2018 with Tampa Bay and last year with San Diego.

Snell agreed to the deal 10 days before the March 28 opener at San Diego, setting up the possibility of Snell making his Giants debut against his former club.

Braves option Elder

The Atlanta Braves optioned All-Star pitcher Bryce Elder to the minors on Monday, deciding to open the season with Reynaldo López as their fifth starter.

López, who signed a $30 million, three-year deal with the Braves in November, earned the rotation spot by allowing just four earned runs over 16 2/3 innings in five spring appearances. He surrendered 10 hits, walked six and struck out 13.

Elder, by comparison, gave up 11 earned runs and 15 hits in 12 innings covering four appearances for an 8.25 ERA.

Elder also began last season at Triple-A Gwinnett, but was recalled early in the year and earned his first All-Star Game selection by going 7-2 with a 2.97 ERA ahead of the break.

But the 24-year-old righthander faded over the second half of the season, seeming to tire as he worked a career-high 174 2/3 innings. He finished 12-4 with a 3.81 ERA and was hit hard in Game 3 of the NL Division Series, giving up six runs in just 2 2/3 innings against the Phillies.

DODGERS GAME REPORT

HITTING:

Judge back Wednesday

New York Yankees slugger Aaron Judge is expected to play in Wednesday night's exhibition against Pittsburgh after an eight-day layoff caused by an abdominal injury while leadoff hitter DJ LeMahieu's status for Opening Day is unclear because of a hurt foot from a ball he fouled off.

PITCHING:

THE GAME: Will Smith and Max Muncy each drove in two runs as the Dodgers beat Team Korea, 5-2, in an exhibition game Monday night at Gocheok Sky Dome.

Muncy drove in two runs with a bloop single in the first inning and a double in the third . ... Smith walked in his first time up then drove in two runs with a double to right-center field in the third . ... Mookie Betts walked twice, stole a base and scored two runs . ... Chris Taylor led off the seventh inning with a home run . ... Shohei Ohtani went hitless in three at-bats and was 0for 5 in the two exhibition games.

Bobby Miller pitched the

first five innings, allowing two runs on five hits while striking out six . ... Gavin Stone faced 11batters in 31/3 hitless innings, striking out eight and walking one. DEFENSE: Third baseman Max Muncy made the play of the game to get Miller out of trouble in the fourth inning. Muncy made a diving stop of a hard ground ball to his right, popped to his feet and made a strong throw to first base for the out. The Dodgers are off today. Dodgers (RHP Tyler Glasnow) vs. Padres (RHP Yu Darvish), Wednesday at Gocheok Sky Dome, 3 a.m., SportsNet LA, ESPN, 570 AM

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