Padres News: Blake Snell Sits in Top 5 of Offseason MLB Free Agents List
Coming into this season, inconsistency was a main word that could be used to describe Blake Snell's Padres tenure.
For as good as he could look at times, there were plenty of other occasions when the left-handed pitcher would lose his command and become a liability for his team -- in stark contrast to his time with the Tampa Bay Rays, with whom he won the AL Cy Young Award in 2018.
At the start of season, it looked like it would be more of the same for Snell, as he had an ERA in the 5's in May.
For a hurler in a contract year, it looked like he was destined to ponder what could've been when this offseason comes around.
Since June though, Snell's turned his fortunes entirely.
He leads MLB with a 2.61 ERA, and looks at long last like the ace that the Padres traded for in 2020.
And that perfectly timed 180 may see Snell cashing in handsomely this winter.
The 30-year-old was listed as the No. 3 free agent in this offseason's class by Jim Bowden of The Athletic, and Bowden made sure to mention Snell's rise of late.
"After a subpar start, Snell has put together a stellar season, posting a major-league-leading 2.61 ERA with 164 strikeouts in 124 innings. He’s struck out 10 or more five times this year and has lowered his ERA by nearly three runs since May 19, when he had a 5.40 mark. His stock is flying up teams’ free-agent rankings. How much so? Well, just as an indication: When I ranked this class of free agents in May, I had Snell at No. 14; three months later, he’s up to No. 3."
It's been a down year for San Diego in 2023, but their bright spot in a dim season may not only get his second Cy Young Award if he keeps his play up, he could very well be looking at a significant contract in just a few short months.
