Blake Snell is not wasting any time. The free-agent left-hander recently met with the Boston Red Sox and Los Angeles Dodgers , according to sources with knowledge of the discussions. It is possible Snell also met, or will meet, with the Baltimore Orioles , Toronto Blue Jays and other clubs seeking a top-end starter.
He surely wants an earlier resolution in free agency than he had last offseason, when he did not sign with the San Francisco Giants until March 19. Advertisement Snell, who turns 32 on Dec. 4, is older than the other top two starters on the market, lefty Max Fried, who turns 31 on Jan.
18, and righty Corbin Burnes, 30. But he also holds an advantage in the market as the only one of the three who is not saddled with a qualifying offer. Thus, the team that signs him will avoid losing at least one draft pick and potentially international bonus pool money as well.
The San Diego Padres hit Snell with a qualifying offer last offseason, making him ineligible to receive another. He ended up signing a two-year, $62 million deal with the Giants, and after a second straight strong finish exercised his right to opt out after one year. Much of the talk with the Red Sox this offseason has revolved around their courtship of Juan Soto, but a top-of-the-rotation starter is their bigger need, and a left-hander would better fit their all-right-handed rotation.
Snell pitched in the AL East with the Tampa Bay Rays from 2016 to ‘20, and officials with two of his former clubs, granted.
