MLB Rumors: Blake Snell Drawing Interest from Giants in Free Agency Amid Astros Buzz
Andrew PetersMarch 18, 2024
Sean M. Haffey/Getty Images
Starting pitcher Blake Snell is drawing interest from the San Francisco Giants in free agency, per The New York Post’s Jon Heyman.
The news comes after reports linked Snell to the Houston Astros. On Friday, The Athletic’s Ken Rosenthal and Chandler Rome reported the Astros are pursuing the NL Cy Young Award winner, but USA Today’s Bob Nightengale reported on Sunday that Houston balked at Snell’s asking price.
Snell, 31, threw 234 strikeouts in 180 innings pitched, notching a 2.25 ERA in 312 appearances in 2023.
Snell is reportedly asking for a two-year guaranteed deal worth $60 million that would include an opt-out after the 2024 season. Nightengale reports that the Astros’ main concern with Snell’s asking price is that it would put them over another luxury tax threshold.
The Los Angeles Angels, Philadelphia Phillies and New York Yankees have all reportedly been linked to Snell in addition to the Giants and the Astros. Nightengale reported that the Giants are “looming” as the favorite to land the lefty.
San Francisco has been to the postseason just once in the last seven seasons. Adding an elite arm to the rotation would help its quest to get back on track.
The Giants are set to have a rotation consisting of Logan Webb, Kyle Harrison, Robbie Ray, Keaton Winn, Jordan Hicks and Alex Cobb. Adding one of the top pitchers from a year ago would certainly give San Francisco’s rotation a boost.
