Ranking Giants SP Blake Snell’s Top 10 Landing Spots in MLB Free Agency
If the Orioles fail to re-sign Corbin Burnes, they will be in the market for a new staff ace.Scott Taetsch/Getty Images
10. Texas Rangers
Projected 2025 Rotation: Jacob deGrom, Jon Gray, Tyler Mahle, Cody Bradford, Kumar Rocker
The Rangers lost Max Scherzer, Nathan Eovaldi, Andrew Heaney and Michael Lorenzen from last year’s rotation, and while a full season of Jacob deGrom could provide a massive in-house boost, they still need to make at least a couple outside additions. According to Jon Heyman of The New York Post, they showed interest in Snell at the trade deadline, so the interest here is more than just speculative.
9. Atlanta Braves
Projected 2025 Rotation: Chris Sale, Reynaldo LĂłpez, Spencer Schwellenbach, Grant Holmes, Ian Anderson
With Spencer Strider still recovering from Tommy John surgery and both Max Fried and Charlie Morton departing in free agency, the Braves have some work to do shoring up the starting rotation. Morton and Fried made a combined $35 million in 2023, so there is some money to spend if they want to splurge on a rotation addition, but a second-tier arm still looks like their most likely target.
8. New York Yankees
Projected 2025 Rotation: Gerrit Cole, Carlos RodĂłn, Clarke Schmidt, Marcus Stroman, Luis Gil
The Yankees can’t be ruled out as a potential landing spot, but they have more pressing needs this winter. The top priority will be re-signing Juan Soto, and if they fail to do that, their attention will immediately shift to alternative options to add an impact bat to the lineup. They also have a hole to plug at either second base or third base, depending on where Jazz Chisholm Jr. plays, and will likely also be in the market for some high-leverage relief help.
7. San Diego Padres
Projected 2025 Rotation: Dylan Cease, Yu Darvish, Michael King, Randy VĂĄsquez, Matt Waldron
The Padres will be looking for rotation help with Joe Musgrove recovering from Tommy John surgery, and Snell was awfully good last time he was wearing a Padres uniform and wrapping up 2023 NL Cy Young honors. There were a lot of moving parts last offseason when he ultimately walked in free agency, but things are a bit more straightforward for the Padres this winter, and Snell would fill a major hole.
6. Baltimore Orioles
Projected 2025 Rotation: Zach Eflin, Grayson Rodriguez, Dean Kremer, Albert SuĂĄrez, Trevor Rogers
If the Orioles are unable to re-sign ace Corbin Burnes, they will need to move quickly to find a suitable replacement. A full season of Zach Eflin and a healthy campaign from Grayson Rodriguez will help, but if this young team on the rise is going to take the next step, it needs a true ace it can lean on. That said, the younger Max Fried (30) looks like a better target for a long-term deal, while the trade market is also a potential avenue to explore given the O’s wealth of young talent.
