Blake Snell Makes The San Francisco Giants Wild Card Favorites

Blake Snell finally has a destiny. The reigning National League Cy Young Award winner agreed to a two-year, $62 million contract with the San Francisco Giants with an option to opt out after the 2024 season. according to Jon Heyman of the New York Post.

Snell remained on the free agent market for an unexpectedly long time after a great year with the San Diego Padres. He led the National League with a 2.25 ERA, 5.8 hits per nine innings and 6.0 WAR (Baseball-Reference version) last season, becoming the seventh pitcher to win a Cy Young in both leagues after winning the honor for the first time in 2018 with Tampa. Bay Rays. He also struck out 234 batters in 180 innings, finishing second behind Spencer Strider among qualified starters in both strikeouts and strikeout rate (31.5%).

At the start of the offseason, MLB trade rumors projected him to sign a seven-year, $200 million deal. He fell well short of that figure in terms of total value and duration, but his average annual value of $31 million surpassed it. If he has another excellent season, he will probably exercise his buyout clause and try to sign a long-term contract again next year.

Still, free agents of his caliber rarely remain unsigned until March 18, less than two weeks before Opening Day. He even threw a 60-pitch simulated outing. three days before to prove his worth to potential suitors, as if his dominance last year wasn’t enough of a resume. He was one of four major free agents who were out of contract when spring training began (all Scott Boras clients) along with outfielder Cody Bellinger, third baseman Matt Chapman, starting pitcher Jordan Montgomery and Snell. Chapman and Snell are now teammates, while Bellinger returned to the Chicago Cubs and Montgomery is still looking for a baseball club.

Part of the reason he remained in free agency could be a disparity in his perceived value among front offices and his representatives. On the one hand, winning the Cy Young speaks for itself. However, his 99 walks were the most in MLB last year and his 3.85 ERA from 2019-2022 was more middling. His outstanding 203 effectiveness was due in part to his 86.7% left-on-base percentage, which is unsustainably high and unlikely to be repeated.

However, he can make a bigger difference for the Giants than any other team. With starting pitchers Robbie Ray, Alex Cobb, Tristan Beck and Sean Hjelle expected to begin the year on the disabled list and miss significant time, San Francisco’s rotation was woefully thin for a team with playoff aspirations. He will now form a formidable duo with Logan Webb, followed by free agent-turned reliever Jordan Hicks and promising rookies Kyle Harrison and Keaton Winn.

By dedicating $31 million to Snell this season, the Giants have now surpassed the $237 million luxury tax threshold. According to Cot’s baseball contracts, its competitive balance fiscal payroll is just under $252 million. As a first-time taxpayer, you owe an additional 20% for every dollar over the limit, which is a tax penalty of nearly $3 million.

That’s a small price to pay for adding a pitcher of Snell’s ability. It’s too early to tell if he’ll be ready to take the mound in their opening series against his former team in San Diego, but if so, it will be one of baseball’s most compelling early-season stories.

While the Giants probably won’t get close to the juggernaut Los Angeles Dodgers in the NL West, this signing may have catapulted them past the Padres and Arizona Diamondbacks in the race for a wild card spot.