3 best options for the SF Giants to replace Blake Snell after his opt out

SF Giants lefty ace Blake Snell opted out of his contract and is now a free agent. This comes as no surprise, but now the Giants must have a contingency plan if he goes to another team in free agency.

It is not impossible that Snell could return to the Giants. He may like pitching at Oracle Park and clearly found his footing in the second half of the 2024 season. But with so many suitors lining up, it may be tough for the Giants to bring him back.

If he does leave for another team, here are the three best options to replace him.

3 free agents for SF Giants to replace Blake Snell with

1. Corbin Burnes

Corbin Burnes has been one of the best pitchers in MLB the past 5 years. As a member of the Milwaukee Brewers and Baltimore Orioles he has been dominant. Last season with Baltimore he had a record of 15-9 with a 2.92 ERA in 194 and 1/3 innings pitched. He should command a very hefty contract and is projected to earn roughly $30 million per year. He is a bonafide ace though and would immediately fill the hole left by Snell’s departure. He also has some local ties to the Bay Area that might help the Giants land him.

2. Max Fried

Left-handed ace Max Fried has been a stud with the Atlanta Braves for several years now. In 2024 he had a ERA of 3.25 in 174 and 1/3 innings. The 2022 and 2024 All-Star may be a bit more affordable than Burnes, but he will still be expensive. He would be a very strong option if the Giants lose out on Snell.

3. Jack Flaherty

Certainly the bargain option of the bunch, Jack Flaherty has been a solid pitcher in his career. 2024 was a bit of a bounce back after he struggled in 2023. Spending time with the Detroit Tigers and Los Angeles Dodgers in 2024, he had a 3.17 ERA on the year in 28 starts. He did commit the sin of helping the Dodgers win the World Series and he is not as good as Burnes of Fried, so he would certainly be more of a backup option if the Giants missed out on the other two. 

We will see how things shake out for the Giants in free agency. If they want to be successful, they are going to need strong starting pitching so they will need to make a push for one of these starters if they lose Blake Snell in free agency.