The baseball world has been paying careful attention as the New York Yankees circle reigning National League Cy Young Award winner Blake Snell.
According to Bob Nightengale of USA Today, the Yankees were the only team to make an offer to Snell, but the two parties have seemingly been unable to agree on a final contract agreement.
Yankees insider Jon Heyman has released new facts about the negotiations to the New York Post, stating that the franchise proposed an even more expensive deal than the six-year, $162 million contract it granted starter Carlos Rodón in 2022.
“The Yankees’ exact offer to Blake Snell isn’t known, but word is they were willing to go ‘above Rodon,’ which presumably means more than the $27 million per year Carlos Rodon got on his six-year Yankees deal,” Heyman said.
Will the New York Yankees sign Blake Snell in the 2024 offseason?
Snell has privately stated that he wants to be a Yankee by Opening Day, and Yankees players Gerrit Cole and Aaron Judge have encouraged the team to make it happen.
Many analysts believe Snell will eventually wear pinstripes if the Yankees sweeten their opening offer. Even if the Yankees were initially willing to go above their contract for Rodón, Snell’s asking price may stay out of reach.
“It is believed the two-time Cy Young winner seeks $30 million plus and likely views one competitor as Stephen Strasburg, who got $245 million over seven years, which is $35 million a year,” Heyman wrote in a statement.
He also stated that the early returns on their investment in Rodón—which saw his debut $27 million season with the Yankees marred by multiple visits to the injured list and a 6.85 ERA in just 64.1 innings—have scared New York away from making big deals for starters.
“Yankees people suggest they aren’t looking at the starter market,” Heyman said. “Though the $162 million Rodon deal was a measuring stick for the Yankees, it’s also believed Rodon’s rough first season in the Bronx made them less willing to go huge for Snell.”
Overall, New York still appears to be Snell’s most likely destination. However, if another team makes a big offer, the Yankees may decide to avoid a bidding battle.
Yankees Tied to Reliever. Ryan Brasier: Potential Signing
In addition to their need for more rotation depth, the Yankees have been linked to a number of relief alternatives, despite entering 2024 with a pretty strong bullpen. Last season, the relief corps had the best ERA in MLB, at 3.34.
This offseason, the organization has shown interest in Wandy Peralta, Héctor Neris, Phil Maton, and Ryan Brasier, among other relievers. Peralta has subsequently joined the San Diego Padres, Neris has joined the Chicago Cubs, and Maton has been assigned to the Tampa Bay Rays.
However, Brasier remains a possible option for the Yankees after a strong second half of the 2023 season, following a trade to the Los Angeles Dodgers.
“He joined the Los Angeles Dodgers and posted a 0.70 ERA in 39 appearances after June 21,” Zachary Rymer wrote for Bleacher Report, adding that the Yankees would be a good fit for the free agent. “No reliever who pitched as many as 38 innings afterward performed better.
Leave a Reply