The 2024 MLB Free Agency market has proven far more challenging than many anticipated. Superstars Cody Bellinger and Matt Chapman wound up signing deals far less lucrative than their initial projections. Now, with Spring Training games underway, the destinies of two more ace pitchers, Blake Snell and Jordan Montgomery, hang in the balance. Will they follow suit and settle for less, or might a bidding war still heat up as Opening Day nears?

Renowned super-agent Scott Boras has built a reputation for securing record-breaking deals for his clients. However, a cold 2024 market has put some of his biggest stars in a difficult spot. Industry experts, like reputed New York Daily News insider Bill Madden, suggest that Boras may have overestimated the market for players like Snell, questioning his durability and ability to perform under pressure in big markets.

Madden argues that this year, there simply may not be that “One Dumb Owner” willing to cough up the cash Boras typically commands. His analysis cites the recent Bellinger and Chapman deals as evidence of a market shift.

Both settled for three-year contracts (Bellinger: $80 million, Chapman: $54 million) with opt-outs, coming far below their initial asking prices, which were upwards of $200 million and $150 million, respectively. These signings appear to solidify the notion that this MLB Free Agency season is shaping up to be a buyer’s market rather than that of dealers.

CBS Sports highlights that while certain free agents have begun to sign, Blake Snell and Jordan Montgomery—both Scott Boras clients—remain unsigned as Opening Day approaches. This delay suggests that Boras and his star pitchers may need to re-evaluate their “waiting game” strategy and significantly lower their asking price, which hangs somewhere north of $300 million and $170 million, respectively.

Read More: Blake Snell Destined for Short-Term Deal? Matt Chapman Inks 3-Year Pact Following Cody Bellinger’s Cubs Compromise

The San Francisco Giants are a team that has the resources and could benefit from adding Snell or Montgomery, and the team has been linked to both aces. Around the Foghorn speculates that, following the Bellinger model, either pitcher might be open to a shorter-term deal. Giants’ manager Bob Melvin’s sarcastic acknowledgement of their need for rotation (a sly “You think?”) further underscores the urgency of the situation.

MLB Free Agency: Chess or a Chase—Where Might They Land?

While the Giants are a strong contender for Snell, the Los Angeles Angels and the New York Yankees are also in the mix. In contrast, Jordan Montgomery might find his way back to the Texas Rangers, where he played a considerable role in last year’s World Series win. Revered industry insider Jon Heyman believes that the Yankees would become instant World Series favorites with Snell onboard, but he also sees the luxury tax threshold as a potential hurdle.

Read More: Jordan Montgomery Short-Term Pact Unlikely, as Rangers-Red Sox Battle Intensifies

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The MLB Free Agency landscape is constantly in flux, particularly this year. It’s a battle between players seeking maximum value, teams looking to fill gaps, and agents maneuvering within a shifting market. The fate of Blake Snell, Jordan Montgomery, and Scott Boras himself rests on a delicate balance. These coming weeks will reveal whether patience proves a virtue or if settling for less is the smarter play, echoing the recent outcomes for other high-profile free agents.