Two SF Giants pitchers are auditioning for other teams the rest of the year

The SF Giants arguably have one of the best rotations in baseball. However, it is unclear how much longer that will be the case. Blake Snell and Robbie Ray can both opt out of their contracts after this season which means they are currently auditioning for other teams.

Blake Snell and Robbie Ray may not be on the SF Giants much longer

Ray and Snell were two of the biggest acquisitions for the Giants this offseason. They completely remade their rotation with these moves even though they knew that Ray would not pitch until the second half of 2024.

The trade for Ray from the Seattle Mariners certainly looks like a steal. The Giants were able to offload Mitch Haniger and Anthony DeSclafani who both struggled mightily in 2023 for the Giants. In return they got a guy who won a Cy Young in 2021 with the Blue Jays and also inherited his 5 year $115 million contract.

With Snell, the Giants waited things out and were able to get Snell on a short term deal. 2 years for $62 million was a steal for Snell who many thought was going to get a long-term lucrative deal.

While both of these deals looked good when the Giants made them, they both came with a catch. Both Ray and Snell have a player option after this season meaning they can opt out of their current contracts and test free agency.

With Snell, that seems like an almost certain outcome. While injuries and poor performance in the first half made some believe that Snell would be reluctant to test free agency again, he has been absolutely dominant for the last month and just threw a no-hitter. If he continues to pitch this well for the rest of the season then it would be very surprising if he did not opt out.

With Ray, he may also decide to opt out. However, he would be voiding the last two years of his contract which is worth $25 million each year. Ray has looked solid so far this year, turning in 3 solid starts, but it is unclear whether he thinks he could get a more lucrative contract by testing free agency.

The next few months will decide a lot for both of these pitchers. If they both perform well, then it would not come as a huge shock if they are playing elsewhere next season. But if either of them struggles or potentially sustains an injury, that could change the calculus regarding their decision on whether to opt out. In essence, they are both auditioning for other potential suitors for the rest of the year.

With Snell and Ray in the rotation, the Giants certainly have a formidable rotation. They may not have it much longer though if Snell and Ray pitch so well that they determine they can make more money by opting out of their deals and sign deals with other teams in the offseason.