Despite Buzzing Market, Will Blake Snell Wait for His Perfect Free Agency Fit?

In an interesting winter market, Blake Snell is one of the top names left in free agency at the moment. His market is heating up at the moment, with certain teams ready to spend big money on the 2x Cy Young winner. Amidst this buzz, the San Francisco Giants and the Los Angeles Angels seem to be the frontrunners for the lefty ace. 

Snell spent the last season with the San Diego Padres, who fell short of expectations despite Snell’s excellence. Now a free agent, the star pitcher is expected to have the pick of the lot. As the winter goes on, the lefty ace and his trusted agent Scott Boras will await a more robust market.

Despite strong interest, Blake Snell might wait out the market 

Blake Snell is drawing interest from the Angels and Giants, with the Anaheim-based team even making him their top priority according to the San Francisco Chronicle. But Snell and top agent Scott Boras may wait out the market for a number of reasons. The 2x Cy Young winner is coming off one of his best seasons, and will likely want to compete. Furthermore, at age 31, he is reaching the peak of his prime but is also running out of time to win a championship. 

LA and San Fran, his 2 biggest suitors at the moment, have not been successful in the playoffs in recent years. Although the San Francisco-based team has made the postseason in recent years, success has eluded them. On the other hand, the Anaheim-based team has failed to make the playoffs since 2014. 

Clubs like the New York Yankees, Boston Red Sox, Philadelphia Phillies, and others who were in on the Yoshinobu Yamamoto sweepstakes may also show interest in Snell as a backup option. Furthermore, he may topple $172 million with Boras by his side. These and other reasons will contribute to his testing the market more. 

The Yankees or Phillies could be strong landing spots for Snell

If the market develops, Blake Snell may find himself with the Yankees or the Phillies. Although neither team has shown any concrete interest in the lefty ace, that could change quickly. Especially with the need for starting pitchers, and a thin free-agency pool. It will be interesting to see where Snell ends up, but I believe that the 2023 NL Cy Young winner will wait out the market and sign for a contending team. 

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There remain a lot of questions surrounding Blake Snell and his market. Where do you think the bonafide ace will end up, the Angels, Giants, or a contending team?

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