Blake Snell simply put collectively one of many higher pitching seasons anybody who follows the game of baseball will ever see. In 32 begins, Snell ended the 2023 season with a glowing 2.25 ERA. His 1.189 WHIP was additionally spectacular as was his 6.0 WAR. Moreover, Snell posted a 2.36 strikeout per stroll ratio and an 11.7 strikeout per nine-innings ratio. Snell received the AL Cy Younger trophy in 2018, and it seems nothing however a mere formality that Snell will win the NL model of the trophy in a matter of days.

After which issues get attention-grabbing. Not solely is Blake Snell projected to win the Cy Younger trophy, however he’s additionally slated to be a free agent within the winter. Snell and the San Diego Padres didn’t make the playoffs this season, although by no fault of Snell. The 30-year-old pitcher has made the playoffs simply as soon as as a member of the Padres in three seasons and has but to have something near the shot he had with the Tampa Bay Rays in 2020 after they misplaced to the Los Angeles Dodgers within the World Sequence.

Snell could have loads of suitors that may assist him attain the head he and each baseball participant needs to achieve: to win the World Sequence. The query is, the place ought to he go?

There won’t be a crew who wants an ace like Blake Snell greater than the Baltimore Orioles. The Orioles received the second-most video games in all of baseball in 2023, trailing solely the Atlanta Braves. They scored the seventh-most runs within the MLB, trailing simply the Braves, Dodgers, the World Sequence champion Texas Rangers, Tampa Bay Rays, Houston Astros, and the Chicago Cubs (the one crew on this group who didn’t qualify for the postseason). In addition they ranked within the Prime 10 in batting common and slugging proportion throughout the common season. Baltimore’s offense was not their downside.

Their beginning pitching, nevertheless, was a difficulty. Of the beginning pitchers who pitched not less than 30 innings, just one Oriole had an ERA under 3.6: that was Kyle Bradish, who posted a 2.83 ERA on the season. John Means received off to a terrific begin to the season earlier than his harm, forcing him to only play 23.2 innings. The Orioles merely did not get sufficient from the likes of Kyle Gibson, Dean Kremer, Grayton Rodriguez, Tyler Wells, and Jack Flaherty (whom the crew acquired in a commerce deadline commerce with the St. Louis Cardinals).

The Orioles constructed from the draft and have one of many decrease payrolls within the sport. In truth, they’d *the* lowest payroll within the majors at $26,526,668 million. If anyone might afford to open the checkbook, it will be them. Snell could be expensive, however he would assist Baltimore exponentially.

Los Angeles Dodgers

It could behoove the Dodgers to signal Snell for a few causes. For one, steering him away from a division rival could be a double-whammy; they’d make themselves higher and the Padres worse. However for one more, they could must overhaul their pitching employees. Clayton Kershaw and Julio Urias are each slated to be free brokers, in addition to Snell.

Kershaw put collectively one other distinctive season with over 131.2 innings pitched. He posted a sturdy 2.46 ERA, 1.063 WHIP, and three.7 WAR. However, he as soon as once more received injured throughout the season and underwent surgical procedure to restore the glenohumeral ligaments and capsule of his left shoulder. He additionally is not getting any youthful after ending his age-35 season.

Urias had emerged for the Dodgers the final couple of seasons as effectively, however not solely did his play regress, he additionally was accused of home violence for the second time. Urias didn’t pitch once more for the Dodgers after that accusation was levied in opposition to him. If these accusations are true, then there isn’t any place within the MLB for anyone like Urias, and he shouldn’t be allowed to pitch once more till all the pieces with that case is sorted out.

Going again to baseball, nevertheless, the Dodgers’ rotation exterior of Kershaw and Urias was not very spectacular. They solely had one different beginning pitcher not named Kershaw to submit an ERA under 3.5 whereas pitching not less than 30 innings on the 12 months: that was Dustin Might, who made his final look for the Dodgers on Might seventeenth earlier than getting injured for the remainder of the season. He simply required UCL surgical procedure and sure won’t be out there for the 2024 season. Neither will Tony Gonsolin.

However Walker Buehler ought to have the ability to prepared for the 2024 season. Younger gamers like Bobby Miller and Emmet Sheehan may very well be prepared for a leap. The Dodgers might not be in dire straits with their pitching employees, however including a starter or two could not damage, particularly whether it is somebody nearly as good as Blake Snell.