All indications suggest that Blake Snell of the San Francisco Giants will likely opt out of his player option. If he does, he’ll enter free agency with potentially the best opportunity of his career to secure a lucrative contract.
This may not only be his greatest chance to cash in, but possibly his last major payday. Several factors will influence how his free agency unfolds.
On one hand, the Giants may consider offering him a new deal, having witnessed his impressive performance over recent months. Despite a slow start, Snell remains one of the top pitchers in Major League Baseball.
However, with multiple gaps to fill in their roster, the Giants might be reluctant to meet his asking price, opting instead to use that money to address several needs. By opting out, Snell could potentially forgo $30 million.
After winning his second Cy Young Award last offseason, Snell was expected to secure a substantial contract, but his free agency didn’t go as planned, and he didn’t sign with the Giants until late in the offseason.
It’s unclear if Snell is concerned about a repeat of that scenario, but rumors suggest he’s not overly worried about hitting the open market again.
Joel Reuter of Bleacher Report believes Snell turning down his $30 million player option for 2025 is a “no-brainer.”
“Snell had a rough start with a 9.51 ERA in his first six outings, dealing with adductor and groin injuries. But since recovering and returning on July 9, he’s been dominant, posting a 1.33 ERA, 0.81 WHIP, and 105 strikeouts over 74.1 innings, while limiting opponents to a .125 batting average. That makes opting out of his $30 million player option for 2025 an easy decision.”
While opting out seems like the smart move, it’s important to remember that some of the concerns teams had in 2023, particularly his control issues, are still present in 2024.
He walked 99 batters last season and has already issued 43 walks this year, which might not seem like much, but he’s only pitched 98 innings.
If Snell remains confident in his ability, he’s proven time and again that he can silence his critics. If that’s the case, expect him to thrive wherever he lands next.
