Blake Snell has won his second Cy Young Award after winning 14 games and posting an MLB-best 2.25 ERA.
However, the veteran left-hander is now a free agent and is one of the top starting pitchers available. He'll certainly earn himself a hefty payday after such a dominant season with the San Diego Padres.
It will be interesting to see how his market develops, and it's obvious that he'll be pursued by multiple teams. Starting pitching is always at a premium.
Worst fit: Philadelphia Phillies
The Phillies qualify as the worst fit not because they aren't a good fit for Snell. Rather, the Phillies appear to be the favorites to retain right-hander Aaron Nola, who has expressed a desire to remain in Philadelphia.
General manager Dave Dombrowski has also stated that his priority is to try and keep Nola in red pinstripes. Should Nola depart, Snell would be the next-best pitcher available. He brings postseason experience and swing-and-miss potential in his pitch arsenal.
The Phillies took the Arizona Diamondbacks the full seven games in the NLCS before falling short and missing out on another trip to the World Series. Snell has pitched in the World Series before and performed quite well.
Still, with Nola available and likely to return to Philadelphia, it would be hard for the Phillies to find a spot for Snell in their rotation, even though they have the funds to do so.
It'll be interesting to see how the Nola sweepstakes play out. Should he sign in St. Louis, New York, or Los Angeles, then there could be a fit for Snell in the City of Brotherly Love.
Until then, expect Snell to sign elsewhere.
3. Atlanta Braves
The Atlanta Braves won 104 games during the regular season. That was the best record in all of baseball.
However, they fell short against the Phillies in the NLDS, bowing out after a Game 4 loss at Citizens' Bank Park. While their rotation is strong, featuring arms such as Max Fried, Bryce Elder, Spencer Strider, and Charlie Morton, the Braves still need another arm.
More specifically, one they could pencil into their rotation for years to come. Fried and Morton are both free agents at the end of the year. The Braves also traded Michael Soroka to the Chicago White Sox last night to land Aaron Bummer, so they'll need somebody else to fill the rotation spot.
Snell would be perfect for the Braves. If signed, the Braves could potentially boast the best rotation in all of baseball and become instant World Series favorites for 2024.
The Braves have checked in on Aaron Nola, according to Jon Morosi. But if they fail to sign Nola, perhaps Snell could be available for them.
All Atlanta truly needs to bolster its rotation is one viable arm, and they would be best served looking at Snell if they can't add Nola.
2. St. Louis Cardinals
It's no secret what the St. Louis Cardinals have to do this offseason. They must add three starting pitchers in order to return to contention, and at least two of them must be frontline starters.
One of them will have to come via free agency. Morosi listed the Cardinals and the New York Yankees as two other teams that have checked in on Aaron Nola.
But Snell might be their best option. While he doesn't always go deep into games, he's a pitcher with swing-and-miss capability, and St. Louis needs that in their rotation.
Snell's postseason experience would be a huge plus for the Cardinals as well. The Cardinals have lacked top-level starting pitching for the past several years, and as such have not won a playoff series since 2019, much less a postseason game since 2020.
His competitive spirit could also ignite a fire in the Cardinals clubhouse, as well as a sense of urgency for a team that hasn't tasted a ton of postseason success in recent years.
The Cardinals' lack of pitching is what caused them to lose 91 games this season. But bringing Snell aboard could help speed up the team's retooling process.
1. San Diego Padres
Though the Padres missed the postseason in 2023 after finishing in third place with a record of 82-80, Snell was a bright spot for them.
Even though they may trade Juan Soto this offseason, it would make perfect sense for them to keep Snell around.
Beyond a shadow of a doubt, the left-hander was their best pitcher, and if they plan to remain relevant, it would be smart for them to try and keep him around. That might be their best path back to contention.
But Snell fit well in San Diego, especially in a ballpark that tends to favor pitchers. With that in mind, San Diego may ultimately be the best fit for him. After all, he has spent the past three seasons in a Padres uniform.
In truth, what team would not want to keep a pitcher who just won his second Cy Young Award? The fit is seamless. The Padres have the financial resources to make it happen. Keeping him would also send a good message to the fanbase and show them that they plan on building a winning club around their ace.
Snell played a key role in the Padres getting to the NLCS last year, and keeping him would be a boon for the team.
