Why Blake Snell is the key to a hyper-successful offseason for the SF Giants without Ohtani or Yamamoto

Why Blake Snell is the key to a hyper-successful offseason for the SF Giants without Ohtani or Yamamoto

1. The Star power

Make no mistake about it. Despite having an odd profile, Blake Snell is a star pitcher!

Since the award was established in 1956, only 22 players have ever won multiple Cy Young awards. You can check out the list yourself. See any bad pitchers? Any outliers?

Snell's resume gets even more exclusive when you consider the fact that only seven MLB players have even won the award in both the AL and NL. This list consists of only superstar, Hall-of-Fame caliber pitchers.

Winning the award in 2023 was not a fluke for Snell. He was dominant with San Diego last season. He led all of baseball with a dazzling 2.25 ERA. He struck out a career-high 234 batters (tied for third-most in baseball). And he finished the season with a 14-9 record.

Snell did lead the league with 99 walks (a personal career-high). This stat cannot be ignored. It is likely why the ace has taken a back seat to other premier free agents. However, Snell has proven to be an effective pitcher despite below-average command. The walks did not stop him from being the best in baseball in 2023. And it should not stop a team like the Giants from pursuing him. And from celebrating if they secure his services.

The former Padres and Rays star also has a few seasons with an inflated ERA on his resume (4.04 in 2017, 4.29 in 2019, and 4.20 in 2021). This has led to questions about his year-to-year consistency. However, it must be noted that, on the whole, Snell has been a wildly effective starter throughout his entire career.

He holds a career 3.20 ERA and a 71-55 win/loss record. He also has the strikeout upside to mow through 200+ batters in any given season.

Don't allow the narrative around Snell to sour your perspective on him completely. What team's offseason wouldn't be labeled a success by adding a reigning Cy Young winner?

Why Blake Snell is the key to a hyper-successful offseason for the SF Giants without Ohtani or Yamamoto

2. The Potential Value

Here's another key factor that is flying under the radar amidst all the Yamamoto hype: By comparison, Snell's offseason deal could be a bargain.

Yamamoto has an elite upside. There's a reason why so many teams are backing up the Brinks truck to sign him. And why I've advocated for the Giants to do the same. Yet, we must remember that the international sensation has never actually thrown a pitch in Major League Baseball.

Yamamoto is likely to eclipse the $300 million mark. In fact, the $400 million mark is even seriously being discussed. This would surpass established superstars such as Gerrit Cole and Jacob deGrom. Is this too large a financial commitment for a player who is completely unestablished in MLB?

On the other hand, Snell's next deal is has been projected at the 5-year, $135 million mark at the lowest and at 6-years, $180 million near the highest. Snell is older (currently 31-years-old). And his prime window is smaller. Yet, all things considered, are the Giants better off paying $400 million to a player with Yamamoto's profile, or less than $200 million for a player with Snell's?

Ohtani's and Yamamoto's mega-contracts could very well make Snell's next deal look like a value by comparison.

Why Blake Snell is the key to a hyper-successful offseason for the SF Giants without Ohtani or Yamamoto

3. The Team Identity

Lastly, adding Blake Snell would give the SF Giants something they currently lack: an obvious team identity. What is the biggest strength of this Giants team? It's a difficult question to answer.

They are solid across several key fronts. Yet, they do not have a true identity. However, adding Snell would immediately transform San Francisco into a club defined by their starting rotation.

Incumbent ace Logan Webb was a Cy Young finalist in his own right. Now, imagine adding a second Cy Young-caliber starter to the top of his rotation. With Alex Cobb then settling into a role as a highly-effective #3 starter.

The back end of the rotation would still need to be rounded out. But, how many teams in baseball could challenge SF for a better top two than Webb and Snell? Or a better big three than Snell, Webb, and Cobb?

This would give the Bay Area the firepower to compete against the juggernaut Dodgers and the defending NL Champion Diamondbacks in a loaded NL West. And, perhaps more importantly, it would make the club extremely dangerous in a Wild Card matchup in the postseason (and beyond).

Why Blake Snell is the key to a hyper-successful offseason for the SF Giants without Ohtani or Yamamoto

An Added Bonus

The big-market Giants have the cash to throw at a second big-name free agent. However, should they land Snell instead of Yamamoto, they would have the added capital and financial flexibility to seriously round out the rest of their roster.

Cody Bellinger is the consensus top free-agent hitter remaining. SF would have a clear path toward adding both he and Snell. The club has also been linked to defensive 3B wizard Matt Chapman. There is no reason the franchise could not add him and Snell together.

The Giants are lacking an elite, middle-of-the-lineup, bat. Signing Snell alone would make their offseason a success. But how much better would it be if they added both the Cy Young winner and a top-tier free-agency hitter?

The gap between Snell and Yamamoto's projected deals would even open the door their the Giants to add a third big-name free agent. Can you imagine an offseason that included adding Snell, Bellinger/Chapman, and a player like Marcus Stroman, Rhys Hoskins, Jordan Montgomery, Josh Hader, etc? Now throw in recently signed Jung Hoo Lee and his elite hit tool and defense.

The offseason has been tough for the Giants thus far. However, do not lose hope that the club can rebound. The door is wide open for the franchise to build a contender, both for 2024 and beyond, even if they lose out on Yamamoto.