Top pick for 2-time MLB Cy Young winner

Blake Snell is a free agent Once again, the two-time Cy Young winner will fall to the highest bidder for the second time in nine months.

Snell ended the season in complete disrepair after a poor start with his new team, opting out of his contract with the San Francisco Giants just a few weeks before opening day. throwing a no-hitter along the way.

Snell is back on the market and is expected to finally get the kind of multi-year deal that never materialized last winter for the left winger.

Here’s a look at some of the best fits for Snell, who turns 32 in December, including two possible reunions:

San Francisco Giants

They won’t be able to find a big-time free agent (ever?) to play at Oracle Park, so the Giants better continue to pursue top pitchers. Snell fell into their lap last spring and regained form as the season progressed, going 10-2 with a 1.35 ERA in his final 16 starts, which ultimately resulted in his departure from the team. There’s familiarity so why not bring it back?

Los Angeles Dodgers

From where? That’s exactly why Shohei Ohtani deferred 97% of his $700 million deal, giving the Dodgers financial flexibility to hire top free agents. There are certainly some variables here (will they sign Roki Sasaki?), but the two-time Cy Young winner will slot right into a Dodgers rotation that has serious injury concerns with Tyler Glasnow and Ohtani returning from his second Tommy John surgery. As the possible departures of Walker Buehler and Jack Flaherty.

New York Mets

The NL secondary needs to field all-free agents with Luis Severino, Sean Manaea and Jose Quintana, and team owner Steve Cohen is expected to do some shopping at the top of this year’s class. Even with his two Cy Young awards, Snell could be a pretty good boom-or-bust signing for the Mets as they look to build something sustainable, and would prefer Burnes’ consistency if they want to land an ace.

San Diego Padres

Should all parties push this back? Snell had a 3.15 ERA in three seasons with the Padres following his trade with the Rays and won the 2023 Cy Young award in his final year in San Diego. With Joe Musgrove out for a year after Tommy John surgery, the Padres will likely need to add a higher-end starter. But the kind of long-term deal Snell desires may not be something San Diego wants to be involved in, just like it was last winter.

Los Angeles Angels

The Angels have activated the hot stove in 2024-25 with some small moves, trading Jorge Soler and adding free agent Kyle Hendricks. Travis d’Arnaud In the weeks since the World Series. These transactions don’t mean Arte Moreno’s club will spend big money to improve one of the worst teams in baseball, but they can’t be ruled out given their flirtation with Snell last winter.

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