Being a Seattle native, it must be hard to play in a jersey that is not navy blue. Such is the case with Blake Snell. Now that he is a free agent, the gates for becoming a Seattle Mariner might have just opened. Or so one thinks. Snell prospectively will have a strong market in free agency, as eight teams are reportedly planning to add two starting pitchers this offseason. There might even be many more eyeing him.

The incumbent San Diego Padres pitcher might not be seen with the Friars going into 2024. Reason? There are wide claims that the team hopes to maneuver 2024 with a payroll of about $200 million, leaving little room to re-sign the lefty. That would naturally make playing in Seattle the more desirable option. For the eight-year hurler, it would be a beautiful homecoming because that’s where he grew up. But it’s important to consider this with an open mind.  

Blake Snell: A Mariners Fan in a Rivals Jersey

There are two key points to this discussion. Well one, is that the Ms have a huge fan base, one of their biggest fans being the 31-year-old Snell himself. The other is that (speculatively) the upcoming contract could be the one that takes him through till the end of his playing journey, given his age. That said, being audience to Blake’s hurling against his own favorite team might be tough. But hang on! As per the New York Post, Blake Snell’s next team odds are out.

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The New York Mets have the third-best chance at +550 to onboard Snell. They could pair him up with Kodai Senga at the top of their rotation to produce one of the best 1-2 punches in baseball. The Mariners and Padres, two outside contenders, are positioned at +650 odds between the Mets and the New York Yankees.

Additionally, with the Boston Red Sox and Baltimore Orioles, two American League East rivals, the Yanks are also at +1000. Whereas the San Francisco Giants, Chicago Cubs, Houston Astros, St. Louis Cardinals, and Cincinnati Reds have odds of +1100 or worse, the field has odds of +1300. Though the numbers can overshadow conjecture, what about what the 2023 NL Cy Young award winner really wants? 

A Childhood Wish Which Is Yet to Be Fulfilled

Snellzilla has always displayed an interest in playing for the city he was born in. But somehow that wish has not manifested in various instances; due to several reasons. When the Snell trade was announced in December 2020, Mariners fans in the Pacific Northwest endured a range of emotions from regret to relief, rage to envy, dejection to disappointment. How come? 

The reason was not that the former Shorewood High School standout joined the Mariners’ bitter ‘natural’ rival. The Ms, who haven’t qualified for the postseason since 2001, failed to even make a move to acquire Snell, which is the reason behind it.

“The Rays have told other clubs that they’re open to the idea of trading Blake Snell, presenting a realistic possibility that a deal could be consummated this offseason. A source noted that Tampa Bay is not actively shopping Snell, who has three years and $39 million remaining on his five-year, $50 million extension“, it was reported in November that year. According to another source, Snell, who had three years and $39 million left on his five-year, $50 million extension, would not be actively pursued further by Tampa Bay. 

Given the Mariners’ history of doing business with the Rays, Snell’s offseason residence in Shoreline, and his compatibility with the Mariners rotation, Mark Feinsand of MLB.com wrote that the Mariners would be an obvious trade partner. But the Rays’ asking price for Snell was the issue. And as they hit that dead end, the prospect of seeing Snell in Seattle was lost. 

Will Free Agent Blake Snell Have a Team of His Liking?

Though the Mariners have not released a firm statement saying that they might not sign the ‘Number 4’, the fact of the matter is clear. Indeed, the Mariners boast one of the deepest starting rotations in baseball, and they have a ton of them. However, supporters question why a team would let go Snell, particularly given his apparent interest in joining them. So, in 2024 too, likely, the rivals would bag them. 

As per Bob Nightengale of USA Today, “Free agent starter Blake Snell would love to sign with his hometown team, the Seattle Mariners, but they don’t have a need for starting pitching. The Philadelphia Phillies are the favorite to sign him while letting Aaron Nola walk away”. Though there’s a point there, one must not forget that the Mariners are a recently strong team. They match the player’s drive for victory. Moreover, they have also had three seasons in a row with 88 wins or more.

Adding Snell to the team may be a step in the direction of winning the AL West in 2024. It promises to be an extremely difficult division, especially considering how heartbreaking their 2023 postseason prospect was. Mariners’ fans were left with a bitter taste in their mouths after suffering an emotional loss to the Houston Astros. Would this infuriate them enough for them to sign Blake Snell, eventually?

What Is Going to Make It Tough for Him to Relish His Dream Even in the Free Agency

In the competitive sport that baseball is, numbers supersede emotions. Though there is a strong desire for homecoming, the rationale says that Seattle doesn’t need more aces. Seems like it does not really matter that the 2x Cy Young award winner stole the show. The glaring truth is that the Mariners are not in dire need of a starting pitcher. But fans only hope the tables turn. That’s what a latest tweet from a fan suggests. 

Blake Snell Nears Baseball Greatness: One Day Away From Joining Legends Roger Clemens, Randy Johnson and Pedro Martinez in Elite Company

@MarinersONtap even tweeted, “It doesn’t matter if the Mariners ‘have a need’ for starting pitching. Blake Snell wants to come home to Seattle, you sign him. He is a Cy Young level pitcher from here. You can trade some arms for a bat now. If he really wants to come home, Mariners better make it happen”. With that in the open, one can only wait and watch which side the truth inclines. 

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