MLB Rumors: Angels’ Blake Snell Chances Become Highly Unlikely, as Billionaire Owner’s Free Agency Habit Comes to Light

Blake Snell’s free agency is getting hits from left, right, and center. The rapidly shrinking number of suitors has raised alarms, and so has the seemingly high expectations of the ace. While reports had emerged that the Los Angeles Angels weren’t pursuing him, things looked even bleaker for the Snell-Halo connection.

The Halos’ owner, Arte Moreno, has a challenging relationship with the fans. Overseeing one of the least successful eras in the franchise’s history, fans have questioned his decision-making. Now, another tendency of Moreno has come to light, and it could spell disaster for the Halos’ links with Blake Snell.

Blake Snell takes another hit as Halos’ exit becomes clearer

“The Athletic” recently reported that the Halos were unlikely to go for Snell. But this is because it has revealed a bigger story related to their owner, Arte Moreno. In nearly two decades of presence, Moreno has shown his tendency to overpay in the offense at the expense of the defense. 

Since taking command in 2003, the highest contract given by Moreno to a pitcher was a five-year $85 million extension to Jered Weaver. During that time, Moreno gave hitters a $100 million contract seven times. An anonymous executive informed “The Athletic” that Moreno’s offensive preferences were due to “playoff defeats the Angels suffered in the 2000s to slugging teams — three to the Red Sox, one to the Yankees.” 

For a team that is yet to cross the $100-million mark for a pitcher, Snell looks quite out of reach. The Cy Young winner has recently rejected a 5-year $150-million offer from the New York Yankees. This gives one an idea about Snell’s expectations and raises a big question — will a completely offense-oriented team be ready to spend over $150 million for a pitcher?

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Things are increasingly looking shaky for Snell. But it seems like Scott Boras is not willing to give up. The super agent has continuously found ways to defend the Cy Young winner.

Scott Boras explains why SnellZilla is different

The biggest worry regarding Snell has been his relative inability to pitch past six innings. Scott Boras has continuously fought this by saying many other pitchers have thrown even less but were given big contracts despite not seeing the on-field highs that Snell has seen. In the past four seasons, Snell has pitched 530 innings, more than Carlos Rodon’s 355 ⅔, and the latter got a $162 million deal from the Yankees.

So, with Boras going all out for Snell, one can imagine a Boras masterclass is nearer than ever. But with teams rapidly exiting the ace’s free agency, one wonders just how practical that masterclass will be in a limited market.

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