The former Padres Star officially enters Free Agency

Former San Diego Padres pitcher Blake Snell is officially opting out of his contract and will become a free agent this offseason. USA Today’s Bob Nightengale.. After a long period of free agency, Snell signed a two-year, $62 million contract with the San Francisco Giants last March that included an opt-out clause after the first year. Snell decides to exercise this clause.

Could this mean Snell’s return to San Diego?

Snell played for the Padres from 2021-2023. He began his career with the Tampa Bay Rays, making his major league debut in 2016, and was traded to San Diego in December 2020.

Snell had his best season with the Padres in 2023, putting together a great campaign before becoming a free agent. During the 2023 season, Snell played in a career-high 32 games. He is 14-9 with a 2.25 ERA and a career-high 234 strikeouts. Snell led the National League in wins above replacement and finished second in the NL in strikeouts. He led MLB in ERA and won the Cy Young Award for the second time in his career.

The 31-year-old had the option to stay in San Diego last season, but rejected the Padres’ $20.25 million qualifying offer in November 2023. After an ongoing free agency saga in which he was linked to multiple teams, Snell officially signed with the Giants.

Snell’s 2024 season got off to a rocky start. Through his first six starts of the year, Snell posted an ERA of 9.51. He allowed at least three earned runs in each of those starts and also missed time due to injury and paternity leave.

After the All-Star break, Snell was hot again. After the break, he posted an ERA of 1.23 and had a string of strikeouts. After the All-Star Game, Snell allowed three earned runs in just one game and allowed no earned runs in five starts. He had a career-high 15 hits against the Chicago White Sox on July 27, and after the break, he struck out at least 10 in five different starts. The highlight of the season was his August 2 performance against the Cincinnati Reds, when Snell threw his first career no-hitter.

So will the Padres follow him?

At his peak, Snell is easily one of the best pitchers in the MLB. They didn’t give him the offer he was looking for after deciding to significantly reduce the team’s payroll and release Snell. This season, however, the Padres know they are in the World Series and will be playing without Joe Musgrove, who underwent Tommy John surgery. Will this be enough to bring Snell back?