2023 NL Cy Young Award Winner Signs with the Giants
On Monday evening, it was reported by MLB Network insider Jon Heyman that the San Francisco Giants and free agent pitcher Blake Snell have agreed to a two-year deal that is worth $62 million and includes an opt-out after the 2024 season. With the start of the 2024 MLB regular season kicking off in ten days, free agent pitcher Blake Snell was receiving a ton of buzz from teams ramping up their pursuits to sign the 2023 NL Cy Young Award winner pitcher. Over the course of recent weeks, some of the teams that had shown interest in signing the SouthPaw included the Astros, Angels, Giants, Yankees, and Phillies. Following the signing of Snell, the Giants head into the 2024 season with aspirations of competing with the Dodgers and Diamondbacks for the NL West division crown after finishing last season with an 81-81 record and third place in the division.
Snell, 31, was drafted in the 2011 MLB Draft by the Tampa Bay Rays, where he spent five seasons in the minor leagues. The two-time ERA leader would make his MLB debut in 2016 against the Yankees and would spend his first five seasons with the Rays. During his tenure in Tampa, Snell would develop into a top-of-the-rotation pitcher after having a breakout 2018 season, where Snell led the majors in wins (21), batting average against (.178), and earned run average (1.89). Following the 2020 season, the Rays would trade Snell to the Padres in a blockbuster offseason move. In his three seasons with the Padres, Snell would lean into the ace role, as he recorded 29 wins, 575 strikeouts, and a 3.28 ERA. Snell is coming off a 2023 season with the Padres that saw the eight-year starter win his second Cy Young Award after finishing the season with a 14-9 record, 234 strikeouts (career-high), and an NL-best 2.25 ERA in 180 innings pitched. After receiving his second Cy Young Award, Snell became the seventh pitcher in MLB history to win the award in both the NL and AL (2018).
The Giants' hectic offseason is over with the acquisition of Snell. In addition to signing KBO standout Jung Hoo Lee to a six-year contract, the Giants strengthened their corner infield with the addition of four-time Gold Glover Matt Chapman. Snell's signing gives the Giants another fierce pitching option under manager Bob Melvin. The team finished the 2022 season with the third-best team pitching ERA (4.02) in the National League and the 11th-best in the league. Snell will also be a part of the Giants’ starting rotation, which includes pitcher Logan Webb, who was voted second in the Cy Young Award voting last season, behind Snell.
