The Giants have signed National League Cy Young Award winner Blake Snell. In an offseason characterized by historic contracts for Ohtani and Yamamoto, the Giants have not hesitated to add a huge rotational piece to complement Logan Webb and Jordan Hicks. Snell joins a young group of players that could be the best opposition to Los Angeles in the National League West.
For a more in-depth look at what Blake Snell brings to the Bay, you can check out the article we wrote earlier this year. In short, he’s a ground-ball pitcher who produces a lot of soft contact. Snell’s repertoire includes a mid-90’s fastball, a curveball, a changeup, and a slider. He throws his fastball nearly half the time and tunnels a late-breaking curveball that produces a lot of whiffs. Snell tends to issue free passes, but he’s also among the best in the league at stranding runners on base. Snell has experienced some injuries over his career. He had Tommy John surgery in 2020 and has battled adductor strains and shoulder fatigue as well. Giants’ General Manager Pete Putila certainly knows this, but the prospect of having the two-time Cy Young Award winner has to outweigh those concerns. In a year where starting pitching is at a premium, the acquisition of Snell gives the Giants a powerful tool in their hunt for an NL West pennant. Even a short-term contract gives San Francisco the leverage it needs to push back against a Dodgers team that is heavily favored to sit atop the National League for the foreseeable future.
