Blake Snell’s free agency period may be coming to an end soon.
The Astros are chasing the two-time Cy Young Award winner. Confirmed by Jon Heyman of the Post..
First reported by The Athletic Houston has interest in Snell.
Heyman added that Snell threw a 60-pitch simulated game, the equivalent of four innings, on Friday in hopes of being ready to be on the roster by Opening Day.
Mark Feinsand of MLB.com It was reported that the Giants and Astros were in attendance.
With most of baseball’s free agent market signed by teams, Snell, 31, is one of the few major dominoes yet to fall as the season approaches.
According to The Athletic, Snell is seeking a three-year deal with two opt-outs, similar to those signed by Matt Chapman (Giants) and Cody Bellinger (Cubs).
The left-handed pitcher is the first two-time Cy Young Award winner to remain a free agent through the end of March, and with Dylan Cease being traded to the Padres earlier this week, Snell remains on the pitching market. This is the top option left.
Snell’s career has had its ups and downs, with some stellar seasons and others near league average.
But last year with the Padres, he led all of MLB with a 2.25 ERA and just 5.8 hits per nine innings.
He also had a career-high 234 punchouts.
San Diego defied high expectations and fell short of expectations, but Snell lived up to expectations and won his second Cy Young Award.
The Astros need pitchers as many of their top hurlers, including Justin Verlander, will be released as the season approaches.
Verlander will miss the start of the year for the second straight season as he deals with an issue with his right shoulder.
On top of that, Jose Urquidy made his minor league start Friday with “elbow soreness.”
In addition to Snell, left-hander Jordan Montgomery, another client of agent Scott Boras, also remains on the open market.
With Gerrit Cole sidelined for the season opener with an elbow injury, Heyman identified the two left-handers as the Yankees’ top two options to fill the top of the rotation role.
