One of the top remaining free agents in MLB is off the market.
Blake Snell, the reigning NL Cy Young Award winner, is heading to the San Francisco Giants, according to multiple reports.
Snell is signing a two-year deal worth $62 million, though there is an opt-out after the first season.
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Blake Snell of the San Diego Padres looks on during the sixth inning of a game against the Colorado Rockies at Petco Park on September 19, 2023, in San Diego. (Sean M. Haffey/Getty Images)
Snell’s presence in free agency with spring training well underway was alarming to some in the baseball world as he and super agent Scott Boras continued to hold out on deals coming their way.
However, the market just didn’t develop the way they would’ve hoped, even after Snell won his second career Cy Young Award.
His market began to heat up more than it has in months over the past few days, with the Giants at the top of the list. With Robbie Ray on the 60-day IL as he works back from Tommy John surgery, as well as Alex Cobb and Tristan Beck set to miss the beginning of the year, the Giants were always in the market for more starting pitching to go along with ace Logan Webb and Kyle Harrison.
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Snell should fit well in the rotation, though it’s unknown when that will be as the season starts in just a couple of weeks.
The Houston Astros were also among those reportedly showing interest in Snell, though they were considered long shots to sign him. They reportedly “balked” at Snell’s asking price, which was a $60 million guaranteed over two years that includes an opt-out after this upcoming season.
Blake Snell of the San Diego Padres pitches during the first inning against the New York Mets at Citi Field on April 12, 2023, in New York City. (Sarah Stier/Getty Images)
The New York Yankees, also in the market for a rotation arm after Gerrit Cole will miss the start of the season, reportedly moved on from Snell as well.
It’s unknown if this Giants deal includes the opt-out, but the money is right where he wanted it. If Snell feels he can clean up with a longer-term deal in free agency after the 2024 season, he has the ability to do so with this pact.
Snell, who won the Cy Young with the Tampa Bay Rays in 2018, posted a 2.25 ERA in 32 starts with 234 strikeouts to a league-leading 99 walks in 180 innings last season for the San Diego Padres.
The 31-year-old features a nasty pitch mix, which includes a mid-90s fastball and a sweeping curveball that had a 56.3% whiff rate last season with a 33.5 put-away percentage, meaning hitters were fooled when it was thrown at a high rate.
Blake Snell of the San Diego Padres pitches during the spring training game against the Chicago White Sox at Peoria Stadium on March 11, 2023, in Peoria, Arizona. (John E. Moore III/Getty Images)
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The Giants need all the help they can get in the NL West, where they have to face the star-studded Los Angeles Dodgers, Snell’s old Padres squad and the reigning NL-champion Arizona Diamondbacks.
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