A former San Diego Padres star is still seeking for his next opportunity.
Blake Snell, arguably the best left-handed pitcher on the market since free agency began in November, is unexpectedly still available as spring training camps begin in Arizona and Florida.
The former Padres standout prospered in San Diego. More than three months after winning the 2023 National League Cy Young Award, he still hasn’t received the deal he desires.
Given Major League Baseball’s constant need for starting pitchers, Snell is expected to find a suitor. Three teams are viewed as probable destinations: the New York Yankees, the Los Angeles Angels, and the San Francisco Giants.
Snell is a superstar. He has won the Cy Young Award twice, including in the American League with Tampa Bay in 2018. His next contract will not be tiny.
He is also one of four Scott Boras clients seeking for a home in 2024 and beyond; Jordan Montgomery, Cody Bellinger, and Matt Chapman are all still free agents.
Snell, 31, was acquired by the Padres prior to the 2021 season and has spent the past three seasons with the team. San Diego is still looking for ways to enhance their starting rotation, but the front office’s financial limits are well known. As a result, a reunion with Snell is doubtful.
It’s unknown where Snell will end up, but he’s likely to sign soon. The Yankees, Angels, and Giants have always been willing to spend on the right free agent. Snell considers all three teams to be viable choices.
Padres fans can only hope that the division foe Giants aren’t the winning bidder.
