Report: Another Team Balks At Blake Snell Asking Price

The Blake Snell drama continues to play out around the major leagues. First teams like the New York Yankees and San Francisco Giants have told Snell and his agent Scott Boras that they will not overpay for the reigning Cy Young winner, refusing to cough up an extended-term or bloated AAV contract. 

Now the latest team to balk at Snell's asking price is the Houston Astros. According to Bob Nightengale of USA Today: 

Two-time Cy Young winner Blake Snell has informed the Houston Astros that he’s willing to sign a short-term deal to join them, but is seeking at least a two-year guarantee for $66 million, that includes an opt-out after the 2024 season. 

The Astros are intrigued, club officials says, but are the latest team to balk at his asking price.

The Astros, who began exchanging proposals with agent Scott Boras earlier in the week, are waiting to see if the price-tag drops.

As is the case with other teams who are not succumbing to the Boras demands, the Astros have an issue with the tax threshold. Signing Snell for one price would actually cost them likely double the amount, due to the luxury tax. The Yankees have the same problem. 

The Giants already have experience in waiting out a price drop with Boras, as they did in eventually signing third baseman Matt Chapman at a cost that they can more readily afford.

Snell went 14-9 for the San Diego Padres in 2023 with a 2.25 ERA and a 1.19 WHIP while striking out 11.7 batters per nine innings in winning his second Cy Young Award. The problem that teams have is the inconsistency from season to season of Snell's contributions. Last year was his first time pitching more than 128 innings in a season in five years. 

And so the staring contest continues between Snell, Boras and the Astros and Giants.

Photo: Orlando Ramirez-USA TODAY Sports