Yankees, Angels, Giants All Seen As Possible Options For Ex-Padres Star
One former San Diego Padres stud is still looking for his next opportunity.
Blake Snell, arguably the best left-handed pitcher on the market since free agency began in November, is surprisingly available even as spring training camps open across Arizona an Florida.
The former Padres superstar thrived in San Diego. More than three months after winning the 2023 National League Cy Young Award, he still hasn't gotten the deal he wants.
Given the perpetual need for starting pitching in Major League Baseball, Snell likely will find a suitor. Three teams seen as possible destinations: the New York Yankees, Los Angeles Angels and San Francisco Giants.
"Blake Snell has an offer on the table from the Yankees, per source, though the Angels and Giants remain possibilities for the reigning (National League) Cy Young winner,"
— Mark Feinsand of MLB.com
Snell is a superstar. He's won the Cy Young Award twice, having also won the award in the American League with Tampa Bay in 2018. His next contract won't be small.
He is also one of four Scott Boras clients still looking for a home in 2024 and beyond; Jordan Montgomery, Cody Bellinger, and Matt Chapman all are free agents still.
Snell, 31, was acquired by the Padres before the 2021 campaign and has spent the last three seasons with the club. San Diego is still looking for ways to improve its starting rotation, but the front office's tight budget constraints are well-documented. For that reason, a reunion with Snell seems unlikely.
It's unclear exactly where Snell will land, but it wouldn't be surprising to see him sign soon. The Yankees, Angels, and Giants have historically been unafraid to spend on the right free agent. For Snell, all three clubs seem like options.
Padres fans can only hope the division-rival Giants aren't the winning suitor.