Last offseason, Blake Snell’s free agency negotiations did not go as planned. Hoping for a long-term deal, Snell ultimately settled for a short-term contract with opt-out clauses. After spending one season with the San Francisco Giants, Snell exercised his opt-out and has returned to the free agent market.
This time around, Snell is expected to secure a deal of at least three years, thanks to his outstanding performance during the second half of the 2024 season. Spotrac projects Snell to land a five-year, $131 million contract this winter.
However, Nick Villano of FanSided does not foresee this deal being with the Giants. Instead, he predicts Snell will sign with the Toronto Blue Jays in the highly competitive American League East.
“It’s hard to determine exactly what the Toronto Blue Jays aim to achieve this offseason, but improving their pitching seems like a clear priority,” Villano explained. “There have been rumors about Blake Snell’s familiarity with the AL East from his time with the Tampa Bay Rays sparking interest among teams in the division. While the Yankees showed interest last offseason, and the Red Sox and Orioles reportedly have interest now, the Blue Jays are likely to win the bidding war.”
Villano’s assessment of Toronto’s pitching needs is spot on, and Snell could be the ideal fit. Known for his ability to dominate as one of the league’s top pitchers, he would provide the Blue Jays with the star power needed to compete in the stacked AL East.
Should Toronto fail to land Juan Soto, expect their front office to focus heavily on making Snell their top priority.
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