Padres Rumors: USA Today Insider Predicts Blake Snell Signs With NL West Rival

The reigning Cy Young winner to stay in California?

The San Diego Padres have been relatively quiet in adding talent this offseason. Their big move came in sending superstar Juan Soto to the New York Yankees, but aside from the five players they brought in from New York, they haven't made any big acquisitions.

Their biggest and best free agent is still on the market, and he goes by the name of Blake Snell. Snell is coming off his best season since 2018 — his other Cy Young season — and is looking for some serious dough. 

Many teams have the 31-year-old on their radar, but USA Today MLB insider Bob Nightengale predicts he will stay in the NL West and sign with the rivals San Francisco Giants. 

Some teams fear that he would put too much stress on their bullpen, lasting into the sixth inning just three times last year, while others wonder if he could handle the stress of pitching in a big market. After all, pitching in Tampa and San Diego looks like a leisurely softball game at a church picnic compared to pitching in Philadelphia, Boston and New York.

Prediction: Giants.

(per Bob Nightendgale via USA Today)

According to Bookies.com, the Giants have the best odds to land Snell at +400, followed by the Seattle Mariners at +500 and the Boston Red Sox at +500. The Padres have the ninth "best" odds to re-sign Snell at +1500. 

The one-time All-Star recorded a 2.25 ERA and a career-high 234 strikeouts in 180 innings pitched and 32 starts this past season. The two-time ERA winner will garner a ton of money, and by all indications, his time as a Friar will come to an end. 

Hopefully, the Padres won't need to face him regularly if he leaves and decides to head up north. The last thing San Diego needs is Snell staying in the division.