The San Francisco Giants might double down on one of the brightest spots from their 2024 roster.
The team had its fair share of struggles as it missed the playoffs for the third straight year, but it enjoyed a productive season from two-time Cy Young Award winner Blake Snell. The Giants signed Snell to a two-year, $62 million contract with a player opt-out in March and the veteran southpaw went on to maintain a 3.12 ERA with a complete game shutout in 20 total starts. After a strong season, Snell opted out of the second year of his deal and is likely to earn a long-term contract for 2025 and beyond.
Despite that on-field production, it would be hard to call Snell’s single-year stint with the Giants an unmitigated success. As The Athletic’s Grant Brisbee pointed out, Snell made some polarizing decisions this year, including taking up a big-league roster spot rather than tuning up in the minor leagues before his first appearance, criticizing the team for rushing him back from injury and skipping his final start because the Giants were out of playoff contention.
Despite that controversy off the field, though, the Giants have been predicted to re-sign Snell by a panel of MLB executives and insiders assembled by ESPN, with seven respondents projecting a reunion.
“Why were the Giants such heavy favorites to retain Snell after he opted out of his deal in San Francisco?” ESPN asked. “‘It clicked for him on the West Coast,’ one executive said. ‘I don’t see him leaving.'”
If the Giants do want to retain Snell, it will cost a lot more than the $38.5 million player option he declined. Jon Heyman of the New York Post projected Snell will earn a five-year, $160 million contract after demonstrating some significant durability in his age-31 campaign.
“He has a much-improved market after a second straight great season and especially big second half,” Heyman added. “Decent chance he winds up back in San Francisco.”
With franchise legend Buster Posey appointed as the team’s new president of baseball operations, it’s hard to say what direction the Giants might take this winter. However, the front office did lock veteran Matt Chapman in with a six-year, $151 million deal in September.
That could suggest Posey and the Giants are looking to sign win-now veterans to long-term deals.
“The Giants will have a big hole to fill if they are unable to re-sign Snell, who enjoyed success pitching at Oracle Park, posting a 2.85 ERA in 11 home starts,” Mark Feinsand noted for MLB.com. “San Francisco did what was necessary to keep Matt Chapman in a Giants uniform after signing him to a similar deal last winter, but it remains to be seen whether they can or will do the same with Snell.”
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