Blake Snell Rumors: Padres to Compete With 2 NL West Rivals for Cy Young Pitcher

Seeing him within the division would be awful..

One of the more interesting parts from the San Diego Padres offseason is what they will do with starting pitcher Blake Snell. Snell was great for the team this past season, and it helped him earn his second Cy Young, this time in the National League.

However, Snell had been rumored to not be returning to the Padres for next season, but now it is being reported that San Diego could still be in on him. MLB Insider Jon Heyman said that the Padres are indeed in on him this winter, along with two NL West division rivals.

“So I think the Giants, Dodgers, Padres all in on him.”

Per Jon Heyman via MLB Network

Losing Snell in free agency would hurt the Friars, but losing him to a division rival would sting much more. San Diego would then have to see him consistently over the next few years.

Seeing Snell wearing either a Dodgers or Giants jersey would especially hurt, but it does make sense. LA needs starting pitching after a tough season with their rotation, and he could be reunited with former Padres manager Bob Melvin in San Francisco.

The free agent pitching market is heating up!@JonHeyman highlights some clubs looking to add multiple starting arms, and the latest on NL Cy Young frontrunner Blake Snell's outlook. pic.twitter.com/TT5Wapym2D

— MLB Network (@MLBNetwork) November 15, 2023

Both teams could use him, but San Francisco is more likely to pay up to land him. The Dodgers theoretically could, but with Scott Boras as his agent, he is more likely to sign elsewhere.

If Snell does leave, the Padres would need to find a way to replace his production in the rotation. He was lights out for them this past season, and the team wouldn’t have stayed relevant without him.

Surely president of baseball operations A.J. Preller has a plan, but that plan could include just bringing him back. Fans would love to see the Cy Young winner back next season, and as of now, it remains a possibility.