Chris O’Meara / Associated Press
The Tampa Bay Rays and the San Diego Padres agreed to a deal involving pitcher Blake Snell, according to Dennis Lin Atlético.
Luis Patino (San Diego’s third potential), catcher Francisco Mejia, right-handed pitcher Cole Wilcox (No. 7) and catcher Blake Hunt (No. 14) goes to the Rays in the business, by Lin.
ESPN’s Jeff Passan noted that the trade is awaiting medical analysis.
Newly won the American League Cy Young Award, the 28-year-old signed a $ 50 million five-year extension with Rays in 2019. Although he still had three years left in a friendly team deal, MLB’s Mark Feinsand. com reported in November that Tampa Bay was open to move the southpaw.
Feinsand cited the financial impact of the COVID-19 pandemic as one of the reasons for negotiating Snell. General manager Erik Neander also probably considered how the commercial value of even elite stars can be significantly reduced based on their contracts.
The Boston Red Sox only got Alex Verdugo and the prospects of Mookie Betts and David Price in the off-season.
From that point of view, this was probably the best time to cash in on Snell, although it almost certainly lessens Tampa Bay’s chances of another playoff chance.
Unfortunately for the Seattle native, his last act as a member of the Rays has already become one of the most examined postseason moments in recent memory.
Snell was participating in Game 6 of the World Series when he allowed Austin Barnes a single. Instead of making his holder work for the third time on the Los Angeles Dodgers’ batting order, Kevin Cash brought in Nick Anderson. By the time the sixth ended, Rays went from 1-0 to 2-1.
Perhaps Snell can settle his unfinished business in the Autumn Classic with the Fathers.
Since his MLB debut in 2016, he’s ranked 30th among the pitchers in WAR (11.6), 19th in strikeout rate (10.49) and 22nd in FIP (3.51), by FanGraphs. He was also not intimidated by the big stage. He hit 44 hitters and allowed 11 races won in 35 postseason.
Snell’s 4.35 FIP in 2020 was a career record, but it is difficult to extrapolate much from such a short season that was staged in the shadow of a global pandemic.
It should fit in San Diego’s rotation immediately as starter No. 1 or No. 2.
Improving the depth of the initial launch was a necessity for the Fathers before Mike Clevinger was subjected to Tommy John’s surgery. This raised the bar to what would be necessary for them to have the necessary arms to do a deep playoff run.
There are also long-term concerns about Clevinger, as this was Tommy John’s second procedure of his career.
Patino made his MLB debut in 2020, and MacKenzie Gore will soon follow in the footsteps of the negotiated outlook, while San Diego raises its prospects for top pitch. With the addition of Snell, the franchise should have its present and future in order.