Hold your horses, Los Marineros fans! Just when everyone was prepping for the Blake Snell Cy Young parade down 1st Avenue, the Seattle Mariners swerved like a T-Mobile scooter down a one-way street. Instead of inking the 2023 ERA champ, Seattle’s new target is Chicago White Sox fireballer Dylan Cease, according to insider Bob Nightengale.

Remember that hot-and-heavy Seattle-Snell romance brewing just days ago that Jim Bowden fanned the flames of? Apparently, it has gone colder than a Pike Place fishmonger’s handshake. Instead, the Mariners are whispering sweet nothings of trades with the ChiSox, with Cease as the prize. So, what went wrong with Snell?

Seattle Mariners make a shocking pivot: From Snell pursuit to Cease trade talks!

Well, whispers suggest Seattle got cold feet over his hefty free-agent tag of $270 million and opted for a younger, potentially cheaper piece in Cease. Plus, Cease comes with a built-in Opening Day starter bonus!

But Cease isn’t free, folks. Nightengale says that the White Sox want a package built around two of the M’s promising young arms: Bryce Miller and Bryan Woo. Miller, fresh off his MLB debut, already packs a 119 K punch, while Woo boasts a 93 K missile. Talk about a pitching prospect power couple!

Now, hold on before you Mariners Maniacs start sharpening your pitchforks. This move, if it pans out, could be a stroke of genius. Cease might not have Snell’s 2023 shine, but the 28-year-old righty still throws smoke, fanning 214 batters last year. And hey, maybe a change of scenery is just what he needs to rediscover his 2021 and 2022 dominance.

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Plus, snagging Cease wouldn’t preclude the Seattle Mariners from adding other pitching depth. Remember, they’re still prowling the free-agent market like a shark at Pike Place (minus the singing, hopefully).

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So, buckle up, Seattleites! This off-season rollercoaster just took a wild turn. Will the Mariners land Cease and build a rotation for the ages? Or will they miss out on both him and Snell, leaving their playoff dreams stuck in the Puget Sound mud? Only time and Jerry Dipoto’s wheeling and dealing will tell. But this certainly leaves Snellzilla stans wondering where he will soar next, with the M’s departure trimming his runway.

Snellzilla stranded? Ace Lefty’s market hits a shocking snag

The Boston Red Sox, initially interested, slammed the brakes on long-term deals for Snell and fellow hurler Jordan Montgomery, citing budget constraints. Translation: Snell’s hefty $270 million, nine-year wish list is a tad beyond Fenway’s current financial realities, according to The Boston Globe.

Meanwhile, the only offer on the table—a six-year, $150 million contract from the New York Yankees—is as welcome as a high-heat fastball to the funny bone. Snell’s camp, naturally, isn’t exactly jumping for joy. So, what’s the holdup?

Read More: 3 Years and $120 Million Stand in the Middle of Blake Snell and New York Yankees – Who Will Finally Budge?

Teams are rightfully wary of Snell’s inconsistency and injury history. Two Cy Youngs are impressive, but FanSided says that two seasons with ERAs over 4.00 are a red flag flapping in the wind. Plus, at 31, a nine-year commitment feels like signing a lease on a haunted lighthouse. Here’s where things get spicy.

With the Mariners chasing Dylan Cease, Snell’s hometown reunion is looking unlikely. Could the Philadelphia Phillies snag him at a discount? Or will a big spender like the San Fran Giants swoop in and finally make him an offer that he can’t refuse? The next few weeks are going to be a pitcher’s duel between Snell and the clock. Buckle up, baseball fans, because Snellzilla’s market is about to get wild.