SUMMARY
- The New York Yankees have officially extended a contract offer to pitcher Blake Snell for the second time this offseason.
- After Blake Snell rejected the Yankees' initial offer, the team is reportedly willing to outdo Carlos Rodón’s six-year, $162 million contract.
As Spring Training approaches, the remaining free agents are racing against the clock. Blake Snell, the 2023 National League Cy Young award winner, continues to be a focal point this offseason and is expected to stay on the front burner unless he signs with a team soon. The pitcher is still available in the free-agent market and is drawing interest from several franchises.
Among the potential teams vying for him, the New York Yankees have officially extended a contract offer to the 31-year-old pitcher for the second time. While the specific details of this offer are unclear, the pinstripers had initially proposed a five-year, $150 million deal earlier in the offseason, which the pitcher rejected. Nevertheless, recent whispers suggest that the Bronx Bombers still hold “serious interest” in adding Snell to their roster.
The Yankees are ready to offer Blake Snell more than Carlos Rodon
Following Blake Snell’s rejection of the Yankees’ initial offer, the team proceeded to sign Marcus Stroman for their bullpen. According to MLB.com, on Feb. 1, a report came forward mentioning that the Yankees are willing to outdo Carlos Rodón’s six-year, $162 million contract in their negotiations with Snell.
Blake Snell is viewing every story of him in a Yankees uniform… pic.twitter.com/KezCH2SQ21
— Patrick Hennessy (@UnhingedPatrick) February 21, 2024
However, this proposed offer still falls short of Snell’s desired terms. Rodon’s deal guarantees him $27 million annually for six years. While it is suggested that Snell is seeking an annual salary exceeding $30 million.
With Opening Day looming, there is a possibility that Snell may become more flexible in his negotiations with the team as the season approaches. The Southpaw would need to finalize a deal soon to ensure he has enough time to begin training.
How will Blake Snell fit in with the Yankees?
If the New York Yankees can sign Blake Snell before the 2024 season, they might create a powerful pitching duo with Gerrit Cole. The impact of having both the NL and AL Cy Young Award winners on the same team. Snell and Cole could be a game-changer for the Yankees.
But there’s some uncertainty in the Yankees’ pitching rotation. While Cole, Marcus Stroman, Carlos Rodon, and Nestor Cortes Jr. seem to make a good lineup. Last season, Rodón and Cortes didn’t have the best performances, and Stroman faced challenges with injuries.
Other teams like the Los Angeles Angels and the Toronto Blue Jays are interested in Snell. If in the end, the Yankees can’t get Snell, their manager, Aaron Boone, has some interesting choices, like considering Luis Gil and Clarke Schmidt for the fifth spot.