San Francisco Giants left-hander Blake Snell is anticipated to choose free agency this winter and opt out of his contract. The 31-year-old has performed well since returning from the injured list on July 9. He has sported a 1.23 ERA with 114 punchouts across about 80 innings of work. Snell is not the only free agent on the market who has to make a tough decision. 29-year-old Cubs All-Star Cody Bellinger is also in the same boat. It will be a compelling and intriguing offseason for MLB this winter.
The #SFGiants expect SP Blake Snell to opt out of his contract and re-enter free-agency this winter, per @PavlovicNBCS
Snell has a 1.23 ERA over 80 1/3 innings pitched with 114 strikeouts since being activated from the IL on July 9th. pic.twitter.com/bhsr8EzBri
— MLB Deadline News (@MLBDeadlineNews) September 25, 2024
Blake Snell Could Opt for Free-Agency
Should Snell Stay Or Go?
Like any star pitcher, Snell has his eyes set on winning a World Series and getting a championship ring. While Snell has never won a World Series, he is a pitcher with postseason experience. In his career, he owns a 4-3 record, a 3.33 ERA, and 61 strikeouts in the postseason. The Giants are currently at .500 and are not in the playoff picture this season. The last time the Giants won the World Series was in 2014. Last season was similar to this for the Giants as they finished with a 79-83 record, finishing fourth in the National League West.
If Snell wants to win a World Series, it likely won’t be with the Giants. Snell will have his mind set on joining a contending team. Many teams, such as the Los Angeles Dodgers, Baltimore Orioles, and the Texas Rangers, have already shown strong interest. Snell will be a hot market player for one of many reasons. One key reason is that he is resilient. He can bounce back from injuries and play stronger. This isn’t an easy task, but he makes it look easy. A two-time Cy Young Award winner and an All-Star in 2018. He is in his ninth season in MLB, which makes him a veteran. He has a 3.19 ERA with a 76-58 record in his career.
Main Photo: Jay Biggerstaff-Imagn Images
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