If the Padres Sell at the Trade Deadline, Blake Snell Could Fetch a Prospect Haul
The San Diego Padres are in the midst of a very strange season. They entered the year with World Series aspirations and while they still have those, their record doesn’t reflect that. The Friars currently sit 6.5 games back of the final National League wild card spot and have some work to do after the All-Star break.
This was a team that was a favorite by many to win it all but the pressure got to them early and now they are left trying to pick up the pieces. As the trade deadline approaches, the Padres front office will need to decide how they want to play things. They could be aggressive and make some moves to help them get back into the playoff picture or they could be sellers, sending off some of their free agents to get some assets back.
One of the biggest free agents for the team is starting pitcher Blake Snell. San Diego will need to decide what to do with him and if they want to retain him after the season. But if the Padres did decide to sell Snell off, they likely could get a haul for the veteran pitcher and let’s be honest, they could use some depth in their farm system after their big deadline trades last season depleted it.
Snell is having one of his better seasons in a while and has been dominant. Over his last nine starts, he has an ERA of just 0.68 and has struck out 84 batters. He is on an electric streak right now and could be classified as the best pitcher in the game of late based on his performances.
For the year, Snell has an ERA of 2.85 with 132 strikeouts over 98 innings. He has been special this season for the Padres but somehow was left off the National League All-Star team, making him one of the biggest snubs across baseball.
Snell is one of those pitchers in the game where the team has confidence in winning the game each time he steps onto the mound. It’s a feeling that gets teammates feeling good about a game and his own manager understands how important it is.
“You feel like every time he takes the mound and he goes out there with stuff like that — it’s dominant stuff — you don’t want to think that way but you know you’re not gonna have to score too many runs when he’s pitching like that,” Melvin said. “Just as long as you can finish the game out.”
I’d imagine that if the team traded Snell, it could net them something similar to when Cleveland sent former pitcher C.C. Sabathia to Milwaukee. Cleveland acquired pitchers Rob Bryson and Zach Jackson, first baseman Matt LaPorta and outfielder Micheal Brantley. Obviously, prospects are always a wild card but getting a good trade package instead of letting Snell walk for nothing this offseason is one option for San Diego.
Trading for Snell is risky as he could just be a rental but it also could be a chance for a team to get him into their building and show him the ropes of being with them. The two sides could then reconnect on a longer term deal at some point if it works out. Sabathia was a rental for the Brewers but he did help them get to the NLDS after being traded there.
The Padres likely won’t move Snell because they want the best chance to possibly make the postseason but it’s definitely something worth considering.
