Philadelphia Phillies May Not Be Pursuing Snell After All
So are the Philadelphia Phillies interested in Blake Snell or not?
In the aftermath of the Phillies’ new contract extension with Zack Wheeler, the answer may be no.
Snell, the reigning National League Cy Young winner, remains a free agent, but that doesn’t mean that teams aren’t interested.
Recently USA Today reported that the Phillies were interested in a short-term deal with Snell, something that is becoming more of a likelihood for him as he tries to find a home for 2024.
A deal for Snell might make sense for the Phillies, even though they’re pitching-rich at the top with Wheeler now extended to 2027 and Aaron Nola in the first year of a seven-year deal.
But adding Snell to this rotation would position the Phillies as a team that can throw Cy Young-level stuff at hitters three games out of every five.
But, now, The Athletic has thrown some cold water on the possibility.
The site quoted multiple MLB sources as saying that the Phillies “never seriously discussed” signing Snell at any price.
The reasons are notable. Wheeler’s extension positions the Phillies to violate the third tier of MLB’s luxury tax in 2025, which comes with a punishment that has nothing to do with the tax — the Phillies’ 2026 first-round pick would be moved back 10 spots in the order.
The Phillies also avoided making offers to players that received qualifying offers this offseason, of which Snell is one. Signing him comes with draft pick compensation and the Phillies have lost picks and bonus money because of it.
That’s part of the reason why the Phillies’ overall system is ranked in the bottom half of baseball.
So no, it’s unlikely that Snell will be a Phillie, as tantalizing as the prospect is.
Snell won nearly every first-place vote in Cy Young voting after he went 14-9 with a MLB-best 2.25 ERA. It’s the second time he’s led the Majors in ERA. He did it in 2018, when he went 21-5 with a 1.89 ERA with the Tampa Bay Rays. He won the AL Cy Young that season.
Snell is one of seven pitchers to win a Cy Young in both leagues and one of 21 pitchers to win at least two Cy Youngs.
