Blake Snell Free Agency Sees Latest Setback, Another Team Backs Away Amid Lefty Ace’s Prolonged Negotiations

Scott Boras and his client Blake Snell are continuously seeing setbacks currently. Just as things were getting back on track after the exit of Los Angeles Angels, another team has left the field as well. Even though the Cy Young winner is quite wanted, there is something that is stopping teams from committing completely to him.

By rejecting the huge New York Yankees offer, Snell made it clear that he’s looking for an even bigger contract. That has raised expectations but might have also given jitters to a lot of his suitors. With the remaining teams going ahead with the offseason plans, is their trouble in paradise for Snell and Boras?

Troubling signs for Blake Snell

The Athletic recently talked about the offseason plans of the Philadelphia Phillies. While talking about their pitching needs, there was a startling revelation – the Phillies weren’t interested in giving a big contract to Blake Snell. “The Phillies are not, barring an unforeseen market collapse, interested in Blake Snell or Jordan Montgomery, according to a major-league source.”  

Earlier New York Post’s Jon Heyman had reported that the Phillies had made a real play for Yoshinobu Yamamoto and were equally interested in Blake Snell and Jordan Montgomery. But things seem to have changed now. There’s a reason for it as well – the already well-set starting lineup. 

After the re-signing of Aaron Nola, the Phils’ starting lineup looks quite complete. As a result, whatever additions they make will have to spend some time in the bullpen competing for spots. So spending a potential $150 million for Snell might not look attractive to the Phils, simultaneously not having a guaranteed spot in the team might be unattractive for Snell as well.

Watch This Story: Unveiling The Top 5 MLB Icons, Creating Buzz In The Free-Agent Market This Offseason

As a result, the connection which was already on thin ground seems to collapse at least for now. But with Snell’s market thinning rapidly, his costs could lower and that could make the Phillies turn again.

Scott Boras has a big issue at hand

In the past two days, first the Los Angeles Angels and now the Phillies have exited the Snell sweepstakes. So the market currently has the New York Yankees and possibly the San Francisco Giants in the mix. With Snell already rejecting the $150 million offer of the Yankees, things are looking shaky on that front. While the Bay Bombers have just signed Jordan Hicks to a four-year, $44 million contract and bolstered their starting lineup.

What all of this means is that Scott Boras will have to do something quickly now. The speed with which teams are exiting is a worrying sign. But a bigger fear is that the suitors have already made additions to their rotation. So will they remain interested in paying the high price for Snell?

Read more: Blake Snell and Scott Boras in Trouble? Yankees’ Free Agency Reluctance Paints a Stark Picture