Ever since Blake Snell rejected the $150 million contract of the New York Yankees, one has wondered what his expectations were. Then numbers began coming in, and it put things into perspective. After the rejection, the Pinstripes were quick to strike a deal with Marcus Stroman. So with the team answering most of its roster problems, there are doubts about Snell’s interest.

The free agency of Blake Snell has been a rather one-note affair till now. Teams come, then go away, and then return. But the cycle might break with the Yankees, whose exit looks more likely right now. Still, there must be some reason why the franchise hasn’t completely left the Snell business—something that is still keeping the Snell fire lit in the Bronx.

Is there a way for Blake Snell to regain the attention of the New York Yankees?

The greatest weapon in Snell’s arsenal was always the lack of pitchers remaining on the market. His agent, Scott Boras, had hoped that with teams getting desperate, he might command a huge price on his Cy Young-winning client. That move seemed to be working when the Yankees offered a $150 million contract, but it was not to be. Now they need to give the Bombers a reason to return to the table.

Sports Illustrated noted, “Signing Snell would be a high-risk, high-reward move for the Yankees, depending on whether they use him properly.” This feeling has been echoed multiple times during Snell’s free agency. His streaky performances have made it hard to predict which version of Snell one will get in a given year.

When at his absolute best, Snell becomes an elite pitcher. But he also tends sometimes not to match up to those lofty heights. But one needs to know that even at his worst, he hasn’t strayed to extremely low levels. But does that make him worth a $240 million gamble by the Yankees?

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The Pinstripes’ payroll is currently just shy of $300 million. The issue isn’t that number; the issue is what they’ll do next year when Juan Soto enters free agency. Also, what if Snell grows redundant in that squad?

The risk of the Snellzilla

With Gerrit Cole standing firm in the top spot, Snell will compete for the No. 2 spot. Carlon Rodon was signed last year to fill that spot but underperformed in his first year. However, his underperformance was primarily the result of multiple injuries, which led to a loss of form. So it won’t surprise if a healthy Rodon returns to his previous heights, and if that happens, Snell’s contract might just add more pressure to the Yankees’ payroll.

Read more: Getting to the Bottom of the Blake Snell Debate – Overrated or Underrated?

The Yankees already have a string of highly-paid pitchers who had uncharacteristically poor 2023. So betting on their return to form could be a necessary step. As a result, even if Snell provides quality, perhaps that $240 million expected price could prove to be his undoing. Especially as the Pinstripes might be the biggest baseball franchise on Earth, they aren’t the all-conquering force of the past.