The tale of free agency for reigning NL Cy Young champion Blake Snell has finally come to an end. According to reports, the pitcher has finally agreed to a $62 million, two-year contract with the San Francisco Giants.
The 31-year-old pitcher’s contract demands prevented him from signing with a team when he entered free agency early in the summer. The wait is officially over, according to MLB insider Jeff Passan’s report on Monday. Snell and the Giants, who were interested in him throughout the winter, have finally reached a deal.
To whom Blake Snell will join?
With less than a week remaining in Spring Training, Snell will join Jordan Hicks, Chapman, Jung Hoo Lee, and Jorge Soler as the Giants’ high-profile free agents, capping up a hectic offseason for the franchise.
Source: Fox News
Following two years with the Padres, manager Bob Melvin—hired by the Giants in October—will be reconnecting with the 31-year-old Snell.
Upon the full recovery of Alex Cobb (left hip surgery) and Robbie Ray (Tommy John surgery), the Giants may have one of the finest rotations in the second half of the season.
Just before entering the free-agency market, Snell had one of the best seasons ever for a pitcher in the previous campaign.
With 234 strikeouts in 180 innings pitched in 2023, Snell was practically tough to get a hold of. His 37.4% whiff percentage was second only to Spencer Strider’s ’23 season (38.6%) among starting pitchers (minimum 150 innings) in a season during the pitch-tracking era (since 2008).
