Despite the New York Yankees already making substantial moves during the offseason, with a projected payroll exceeding $300 million, their pursuit of improvement continues. Seeking to reclaim their status as World Series contenders, the Yankees have overhauled their lineup through trades involving Juan Soto and Alex Verdugo and addressed starting rotation depth with the signing of Marcus Stroman. Yet, despite these moves, their offseason priority remains securing another elite pitcher to complement Gerrit Cole.
Despite their efforts, such as pursuing Yoshinobu Yamamoto (who chose the Los Angeles Dodgers) and engaging in trade talks for Dylan Cease of the Chicago White Sox, the Yankees are cautious about sacrificing more top prospects. Another potential avenue lies in free agency, with reigning NL Cy Young winner Blake Snell emerging as an option.
Snell, a left-handed pitcher, is considered the premier free-agent starter, and there is mutual interest in bringing him to the Bronx. However, pursuing Snell comes with its own set of risks for the Yankees. On the surface, Snell appears to be a standout pitcher in his prime. In the 2023 season with the San Diego Padres, he achieved a 14-9 record with an MLB-best 2.25 ERA and an 182 ERA+. Known for his formidable fastball and impressive array of curveballs, sliders, and changeups, Snell recorded a career-high 234 strikeouts in 180 innings, allowing just 5.8 hits per nine innings. Metrics like his whiff percentage (37.3) and strikeout percentage (31.5) rank in the 98th and 94th percentiles, respectively, and his total pitching run value of 44 places him in the highest percentile. However, some statistical indicators suggest potential regression for the 31-year-old pitcher.
