Blake Snell‘s free agency saga does not seem to be ending any time soon. With the southpaw seemingly waiting for the right offer, his agent, Scott Boras, plays the game of patience. The ace prefers staying calm rather than rushing into a deal. While uncertainty swirls about potential landing spots, insider Jon Heyman has made a point.

Well, it “could be a while” before Snell puts pen to paper with the team of his choice on a contract of his choice. The man who recently collected his hardware for his 2023 Cy Young Award winner is “waiting patiently.”

Why is Blake Snell not yet signed?

The client-agent duo waits for a lucrative contract. And amid that, there are a couple of suitors who could be interested in the lefty, apart from the New York Yankees. The Yanks recently approached Snell with a $550 million offer, which he turned down. Considering that Snell is steadfast when it comes to his asking price, Jon Heyman stated optimistically, “It could be a while.” He further drew parallels between Snell’s and the Philadelphia Phillies star’s situations.

He said, “Great player. [Harper] didn’t sign until February 28th, five years ago. We know that worked out pretty well for him.” On one hand, Heyman did not go as far as saying that Snell too would secure a record deal. On the other hand, he remained optimistic that, though it could be a while, a good, hefty contract would certainly fall on his lap.

But guessing the contract value without assessing the suitors’ backgrounds might be baseless. Upon checking reports, it became clear that the 31-year-old could land in San Francisco with the Giants. Or it could even be the Baltimore Orioles, based on Carlos Baerga’s mention. Even the Los Angeles Angels perhaps. But will either team be able to offer a nine-year, $270 million deal?

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Is Blake Snell’s patience a strategic move?

While it is tough to figure out what Scott Boras is strategizing for Snell, their patience reflects confidence. Heyman further said, “I still think there’ll be a big deal out there for Snell at some point. He’s obviously patient.” Another point to note here is that Snell thanked the Boras Corporation at the Baseball Writers’ dinner for everything they’re doing. This might be indicative of the fact that there is a plan behind sticking to the asking price.

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Well, that said, the waiting game isn’t one without risks. It is possible that with each passing day, there is a chance that teams get cold feet and back out of talks. Nevertheless, Snell’s two Cy Young awards remain a major bargaining chip. But is that sufficient enough to pay off as per his expectations? Only time will tell.