Blake Snell could be looking to surprise the world. After winning the Cy Young award, things were looking bright for SnellZilla. He was one of the biggest free agents in the market, and fans expected him to get a massive deal. With teams like the Los Angeles Angels and San Francisco Giants after Snell, recent reports indicate the ace might be looking at a rather creative contract.

Though the Giants have always been frontrunners in this race, the recent arrival of the Angels has made Snell’s free agency quite interesting. With the Halos’ interest rising quickly, could this ingenuity seal the deal between the two?

Blake Snell to take an unexpected route?

While no doubt Blake Snell had a great 2023, his age seems to be an issue. At 31, Snell is nearer to the end of his peak, and with a previous record of inconsistencies, teams are hesitant to offer him a long-term contract. It seems the pitcher has recognized it too, with recent reports indicating that the Cy Young winner may be open to a short-term contract.

Chris Cotillo of MassLive.com reported that Snell, “might command a shorter, more creative deal for a team in win-now mode. Earlier this week, a person with knowledge of the pitching market suggested something like a three-year deal with a high average annual value and opt outs may be the route teams take with Snell.”

This could come as a relief for the Angels, who seemed worried about investing long-term in a 31-year-old ace. Even though after the departure of Shohei Ohtani the Halos lack an ace, Snell looks like the kind of risk that the Anaheim Angels never take. A three-year deal with opt-outs would ensure they get Snell’s remaining prime at relatively low risk.

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At the same time, this could be a smart play by Snell who can get a higher salary as well as cash in again in a few years if he plays well. As a whole, it looks to be a nice twist in this tale but there’s a slight problem. As Cotillo said, Snell could do this for a win-now team, but is that club the Angels?

As usual, the Angels’ losing record is a problem

The Angels have not made a playoff since 2014. They’ve not even had a winning record even once in the last five years. Even now, the Halos lack the quality to make them genuine contenders in 2024. It might require much convincing to bring Snell into their fold.

Especially as the Giants are much ahead of the Halos right now, with a good defense and improving offense, in the win-now trajectory. So it remains to be seen how Snell’s free agency ends. The Angels would wish some blessings to come their way.

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