Phils still seeking frontline starter after re-signing Nola?
Three moves Phillies should m….
Blake Snell is now a free agent. MLB.com is keeping track of the latest news and rumors surrounding the left-handed starting pitcher.
Nov. 30: Phillies ‘believed interested’ in Snell (report)
Even after re-signing right-hander Aaron Nola to a seven-year, $172 million contract, could the Phillies still be in the market for another front-end starter? According to MLB Network insider Jon Heyman in an article for the New York Post, the answer to that question is yes.
“The Phillies are believed interested,” Heyman wrote of Snell in his latest rundown of where things stand with the top free agents available in this year’s class.
If Philadelphia was to add the reigning NL Cy Young Award winner, it would create a formidable threesome in the starting rotation, with Nola, Zack Wheeler and Snell forming a triumvirate that could be very tough to beat in a postseason series.
Nov. 29: Does Snell ‘badly’ want to pitch for Mariners?
On NBC’s Thanksgiving telecast of the Seahawks-49ers game in Seattle, play-by-play broadcaster Mike Tirico suggested that Snell, a native of Seattle and the reigning NL Cy Young Award winner, wants to pitch for his hometown team.
Nov. 29: Does Snell ‘badly’ want to pitch for Mariners?
On NBC’s Thanksgiving telecast of the Seahawks-49ers game in Seattle, play-by-play broadcaster Mike Tirico suggested that Snell, a native of Seattle and the reigning NL Cy Young Award winner, wants to pitch for his hometown team.
MassLive’s Chris Cotillo later posted on social media that Snell “badly” wants to pitch for the Mariners, and that came on the heels of a radio appearance by Seattle Times reporter Ryan Divish, who stated that he thinks the Mariners “are gonna sign Blake Snell because he really wants to come home, and then they’ll trade one of the young pitchers for a bat.”
Seattle has a talented group of starters — veteran Luis Castillo and youngsters George Kirby and Logan Gilbert each posted an ERA below 3.75 over at least 190 innings last season, and 2021 AL Cy Young Award winner Robbie Ray could return during the first half of next season after undergoing Tommy John surgery last spring. Adding Snell to the front of their rotation could enable the Mariners to move one of the young starters for an upgrade to the lineup in their quest to overtake the Rangers and Astros in the AL West.
Nov. 29: Angels ‘very interested’ in Snell
Although the Angels are holding out hope that they’ll be able to re-sign Shohei Ohtani, the two-way superstar apparently isn’t the only top free agent the team is eyeing.
MLB.com’s Mark Feinsand has heard the Halos are “very interested” in Snell.
The two-time Cy Young Award winner would make sense for the Angels whether they are able to bring back Ohtani or not. Even with Ohtani posting another unanimous AL MVP Award-winning season in 2023, the Angels went 73-89 and missed the postseason for the ninth straight year.
Their rotation currently features Reid Detmers, Patrick Sandoval, Tyler Anderson, Griffin Canning and Chase Silseth, who combined for a 4.53 ERA over 111 starts this past season. Ohtani, meanwhile, made 23 starts for the club and recorded a 3.14 ERA, but he won’t be available to pitch in 2024 after undergoing elbow surgery in September.
Nov. 15: These teams have interest in Snell (report)
With eight teams reportedly hoping to add two starting pitchers this offseason and many more looking for one, Snell is expected to have a robust market in free agency.
According to MLB Network insider Jon Heyman, the greatest interest is currently coming from the West Coast, with the Dodgers and Giants both in the mix for Snell in addition to the incumbent Padres.
It’s been widely assumed that San Diego is not a fit for Snell due to reports that the club is looking to head into 2024 with a payroll around $200 million, leaving little space with which to operate this offseason barring a Juan Soto trade. But apparently the Friars haven’t ruled out re-signing the lefty.
