As the free agency frenzy continues to grow in MLB, the progressions of the topmost pitching prospect, Blake Snell, come to light. Three teams were reportedly eyeing Snell for their individual needs to upgrade their pitching rotation. According to recent news, just two remain in the lead.

The SF Giants and the Angels have been on the front lines of Snell’s free agency all offseason long. Snell had a golden season this year, leading the league in walks and ERA. His performance led him to receive his career’s second Cy Young Award. Hence, it is no wonder that any team in need of a pitcher will go after him. Among the ones who did, the Cubs might be on the verge of exiting the market.

Is Blake Snell a no-go for the Cubs?

The Chicago Cubs have been eyeing Blake Snell along with the two other teams, per a Cubbies Crib report. Their Cy Young nominee pitcher, Justin Steele, will need another starting pitcher by his side before the team steps into the 2024 season. Among the handful of available pitching prospects on the market right now, Snell topped their list. But it looks like the Cubbies have no chance of clinching the ace, despite the reported interest.

The Cubs have seldom gone after the leading prospects in the market before. They were after Tyler Glasnow before he became a part of the Dodgers dugout. Although they don’t have a scarcity of resources, it can be assumed that Chicago will not be willing to pay the predicted $200 million price to secure Snell for seven years under their banner.

The last time the Cubbies splurged big was back when they locked in Jason Heyward for a $184 million offer for eight years. Blake Snell is 31 years old now. The team will likely neither take the chance nor be willing to go big on a player soon to hit the 35-year-old threshold. It is to be noted that Snell’s apparent popularity on the Angels’ and Giants’ teams might just be another reason why the Cubs are not seriously pursuing the ace.

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The teams in the lead

According to Bob Nightengale of USA Today, the SF Giants are currently leading Snell’s free agency market, with rumors of a draft happening anytime after the previous top pitching prospect, Yoshinobu Yamamoto, signed. Now that it has been dealt with, it remains to be seen whom Snell ends up siding with, considering there’s yet another big-league team in the play.

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Per industry reports, the Angels have made Blake Snell their priority after losing out Shohei Ohtani to the Dodgers. No matter which of these two Snell ends up with, it will turn out to be a unique hire given the Giants’ affinity for going for younger pitchers and the Angels’ tendency to sign short-term deals as of late. Only time will decide the course of events.