New York Yankees Set to Face Houston Astros in Crucial Pitcher Search? Blake Snell Buzz Grows

February is about to end, but Blake Snell remains a free agent. The surprising part is that the ace still has no favorites. The New York Yankees gave him an offer that he rejected, and ever since then, the links have been on and off. On the other hand, teams like the San Francisco Giants and LA Angels are playing the waiting game. So essentially, it’s an open field for the Cy Young winner, and if rumors are to be believed, the Houston Astros might take advantage of it.

The Houston Astros have started Spring Training rather slowly. While there’s no reason for alarm, it did raise a question about the lack of quality in their rotation. The Astronauts have perhaps the best set of relievers in the league, but the staff for the first 6-7 innings leaves a lot to be desired. With Snell still on the market, could the Astros reignite their passion for the ace?

Blake Snell finds another potential suitor

Ever since Cody Bellinger’s surprising short-term deal, speculations have been high regarding other Scott Boras clients. Even before the deal, it was reported that Snell could prefer a front-loaded, short-term deal. However, that was even more unsuitable for the Yankees due to their payroll issues. This effectively blocked that connection and raised a great opportunity for the Astros.

Drew Koch of Climbing Tals Hill speculated how the Astros could benefit from the Yankees’ hesitation. Calling the Yankees the Astros’ “biggest competition in the American League next season,” the writer cited how Snell could benefit the Blastros’ pitching lineup. With Luis Garcia and Lance McCullers Jr. out until midseason and Justin Verlander’s shoulder issues, the Astros need more depth.

Another strong indication could be the fact that the Astros talked to the Padres last season about a possible trade for Blake Snell. So clearly, the Stars do rate the ace highly. At this stage of the offseason, they might pull a Chicago Cubs and get Snell for a cheaper deal. 

Read more: Blake Snell: Short-Term Deal Incoming? Serious Questions Arise Amidst Scott Boras’ Cody Bellinger Compromise

But then there’s one major issue that the Astros currently face: their payroll and the media rights fiasco.

The budgetary issues facing the astronauts make things difficult

The Astros are already over the taxation threshold, so any additional spending will be heavily taxed. While that could’ve been manageable, the trouble comes from their TV rights. The team has started its own sports network, but due to high operational costs, they’re set to lose money on it for the next few years. Media rights play a major part in the team’s revenue, so a loss there complicates things.

On the other hand, the Yankees too are suffering from taxation issues. With both of his potential suitors having their own monetary issues, Snell and Boras have a big decision to make. Do they follow Bellinger, or do they continue to bet on themselves?

Read more: Houston Astros Face Financial Squeeze, Set to Lose $73 Million After Major Broadcasting Departure