MLB Insider Predicts Cy Young Winner Will Not End Up With Yankees

At least one MLB insider believes the two-time Cy Young winner will end up with a team on the west coast.

The New York Yankees are still considered a team that could pursue two-time Cy Young winner Blake Snell. But it’s looking more and more like he has a preference for a team that doesn’t wear pinstripes.

Recently, MLB insider Buster Olney told the Willard and Dibs podcast that he was predicting that the Los Angeles Angels would ultimately sign Snell, who is the top remaining pitcher on the free-agent market in spite of his impressive credentials.

Olney told the podcast that he was basing his projection on conversations with those that know Snell and a belief that the former San Diego Padres starter has a preference to remain in Southern California.

It’s strange that Snell remains unsigned. He is now part of a select group of pitchers that have won a Cy Young in each league, after winning one of the San Diego Padres in 2023.

Snell won nearly every first-place vote after he went 14-9 with a MLB-best 2.25 ERA. It’s the second time he’s led the Majors in ERA. He did it in 2018, when he went 21-5 with a 1.89 ERA with the Tampa Bay Rays. He won the AL Cy Young that season.

For the past few weeks there has been reporting that indicated that Snell had received an offer from the Yankees. The New York Post recently reported that the Yankees were interested enough to consider paying Snell more per year than they’re paying Carlos Rodón, which is $27 million per year.

But the same site also reported the Angels were one of four teams keeping in touch with Snell but weren’t ready to pull the trigger.

Olney said two factors could alter Snell’s trajectory — the money he’s being offered and injuries that might force a contender to make Snell an offer in the neighborhood of what Snell’s agent, Scott Boras, is looking for.

Meanwhile, Snell continues to sit as Opening Day games are less than three weeks away.