Angels Reportedly Strongest Suitor for Reigning Cy Young Winner

What can the Halos do to keep Snell in Southern California?

The Los Angeles Angels could use some starting pitching. Former two-way superstar Shohei Ohtani was the ace of their pitching staff last year. He won't pitch for anyone in 2024, but that is of little consolation to the Angels, who were left with an obvious hole at the front of their rotation.

Throughout the offseason, the Halos have been connected to the 2023 NL Cy Young award winner, Blake Snell. The left-hander is still looking for a contract in free agency. According to USA Today's Bob Nightengale, the Halos are the top suitors to sign the ace. 

Blake Snell will still be a free agent when spring training hits with teams continuing to balk at his asking price in excess of $200 million. The Los Angeles Angels are the strongest suitor at this juncture.

(Per Bob Nightengale via USA Today)

However, if the Halos decide to pull the trigger, it might not be until another month or so. Snell is 31 and coming off his best season since winning the AL Cy Young award in 2018. 

After a slow start to last season, Snell posted a 1.20 ERA over his final 22 starts to run away with the award.

Although he's virtually unhittable when he's "on," the fear with Snell is that he only pitched more than six innings three times in 2023, and has never pitched eight innings in 191 career starts. The talent is clearly there, but the concerns about his ability to go deep in games could dissuade some executives from meeting his asking price. 

According to Nightengale, the Phillies, Red Sox, Yankees, and Mets are also in the Snell derby. If the concerns about his durability come to fruition, Snell could fall right into the lap of the Halos.