The Blake Snell-New York Yankees relationship appears to have no end, as ESPN’s Jeff Passan discussed the continuing free agency controversy with the reigning NL Cy Young Award winner. Spring Training has officially begun, with the Yankees starting games this weekend, yet one of the game’s top starters has yet to find a home. Blake Snell, like many of the other free agents on the board, is not just without a team but also without a market, but Jeff Passan believes it will come down to two.
Passan stated on ESPN that he believes the Yankees are the best fit for Blake Snell’s talents, but he also cited the Angels as a team that has made sense from the start. It’s unclear what this means for the Yankees’ pursuit of Snell, but Jeff Passan believes the team is still interested in one of the league’s best starters.
Blake Snell remains connected to the Yankees.
Money is the biggest question surrounding the New York Yankees and Blake Snell, which is why stories have surfaced downplaying the team’s interest in his services. This is not just speculation; the Yankees’ payroll exceeds $300 million, and any more expenses will result in a 110% tax. For example, if they award Blake Snell a deal for $30 million for the 2024 season, the franchise will be charged an additional $33 million.
Paying $63 million for a single player is ludicrous; even Shohei Ohtani does not represent a significant luxury tax charge for the Dodgers. This is not to argue that money should be an issue for the Yankees, but considering the spending habits of all 30 teams, including the New York Mets, it’s difficult to picture them pulling off such a costly transaction. Hal Steinbrenner did give an interesting comment on spending and what he’d be open to hearing on the free agency market:
“Given our current payroll situation, any addition to the club will be costly, but I’m still open to evaluate anything Cash and his crew bring my way. I will leave it at that. But we’re not done working to develop this team.”
When Aaron Judge made statements earlier this week implying a probable trade, speculation about prospective additions grew. Again, the arrival of Blake Snell is a logistical concern rather than a roster one; the Yankees would likely prefer to place him in their rotation behind Gerrit Cole. You move everyone down the depth chart and sign one of the best pitchers in the game in one swing; it’s a home run for the franchise.
That being said, you can’t blame an owner for not paying $63 million for a single addition, especially when one of their next free agents is a generational left-handed bat who will be 26 years old next winter. Perhaps Blake Snell sees his market falling into an area where the Yankees are willing to take advantage, but it’s a stalemate with no resolution in sight and no clear frontrunner as of today.
