Blake Snell Rumors: NL East Powerhouse Emerges as Top Destination for Former Padres Ace
The San Diego Padres are entering the offseason with the intent to allow starting pitcher Blake Snell to walk it seems. There had been multiple reports about him not coming back despite his great 2023 season, and now it feels like he will leave the Friars.
There will be plenty of suitors for his services this winter, but there is one coming from the East Coast that has emerged. According to MLB insider Bob Nightengale of USA Today, the Philadelphia Phillies are considering going after Snell, while letting their own free agent Aaron Nola walk.
“GMs believe that the Phillies will let Nola walk, and will turn their attention to Blake Snell, who’s about to win his second Cy Young award.”
The Phillies could use a tough left-hander ace in their rotation, and he would bring his big-game pitching to the table. Philadelphia hasn’t been shy about spending money to upgrade their team, even after success in the postseason.
They may need him after the collapse that they had in the NLCS this season, so it would benefit them to aggressively pursue his services. If Snell were to go to Philadelphia, it could open up the chance for Nola to potentially come to San Diego. The Padres aren’t planning on resigning Snell anyway, so his leaving has always been a strong possibility.
But the team would need to figure out how to replace him in the rotation, and he was the best pitcher in baseball a season ago. That level of production isn’t easily replicated, so San Diego may look to just replace him with another top-line starter who they believe is more worth the money.
While he had an up-and-down 2023 season, Nola showed that he can be relied upon in the playoffs once again. He would take over as the ace of the Padres, and it could essentially be like a switch with the Phillies for Snell.
Both teams would get an ace to help lead them, and both sides could pay the pitcher that they want. This is one route that the Padres could go this winter, but it does seem like Snell is all but gone from San Diego.
