Cody Bellinger and Blake Snell are both represented by Scott Boras, who always tries to get the maximum for his clients----love him or hate him, that IS his job. Boras is willing to play "chicken" with his clients until some team is desperate enough to cough up the money. That said, it's a roll of the dice for anyone who signs either of these guys, because while they've both had one or two seasons where they've played like Hall of Famers, they've generally trended mediocre to (in Bellinger's case) bad.
I agree with it’s a roll of the dice, I know it’s Boras’s job but at the same time it could come back to bite them. Just my opinion honestly. I just don’t think anybody will cough up the 200+ million they want.
To me, the problem is that for all his talent, Snell is a bullpen killer. In his eight seasons, he has never averaged 6 IP per start, and half of his seasons he averaged less than five. A team signing a starter for $30MM+ per year has higher expectations than that.
Spencer Strider and Gerrit Cole are top 2 pitchers in the league, but neither average over a 6.2 innings per start. Starting Pitchers are averaging less innings now more than ever because their quality pitches are higher. Teams won’t skip on him because of this.
The big thing to me is total IP. He has been great the past season, the problem is that he does not normally throw this many innings so coming in at age 31 can he come out and do the same if not be close to where he was last year for the next few years.
@@The_Midwest_Slugger It’s completely the amount of money and not the production, I definitely agree with that part. I personally don’t have faith in him and wouldn’t sign him but it wouldn’t be because the innings per start
He & Belli are being completely unrealistic. Only because they just happened to be healthy & produce in a contract year. Teams aren’t willing to trust that 2023 was a true season for either one imo. As a Dodgers fan, I’m glad we’ve stayed away from them both!
I think teams are basically saying that they are not willing to give the money/term that these players and agents want. Who are the big free agents? Snell, Bellinger and Chapman? Are any of these guys worth $25 million per year? Who wants to pay Bellinger because he had 1 good season? Who wants to give Chapman $25/5 when he hits .240 and can't hit an elevated fastball? These are not team changing players.
1000% agree they played good in a contract year but Belli has struggled the past few years. Come down to it I would try to get a deal guaranteed money. If they are all at there best the can help out but the problem is they all are just coming off a good season. Only desperate teams will offer them.
@@The_Midwest_Slugger seems like a game of chicken between agents and teams.m and I think the teams are going to win. As I said these are not team changing/team building players. They don’t want to put 5 years into them. Im a Jays fan and I would be willing to give Chapman and Bellinger $25-30 million for 1 year…over pay a little. If season goes off the rails you can trade the for some good prospects at the deadline.
I think a short deal like that suits most of the big players left. I like the thinking of that and use them towards the deadline. I think the agents would like that as well because if things went well again then they could ask for even more next year😂. I just know snell is being extremely blunt he wants years and money. We will see how it plays out!
Cease walking people is in my brain 🧠 a lot 99 walks for snell is an exclamation point 2.25 era is good and I still very much remember 2020 World Series game 6 very much
Blake Snell is a fluke Cy Young winner, and I believe his 2023 CY was a statistical anomaly. He comes with more red flags in his game than a Soviet military parade and he is greatly overvaluing himself. The Yankees offer was more than fair, and turning that down I believe really hurt his market value. I won't feel bad for him if he doesn't get a contract. He had his chance and threw it away.
@The_Midwest_Slugger I kinda think we are at a point where teams are putting their foot down now with Scott Boras clients and their greed. Blake Snell in my opinion is gonna come crawling back to the Yankees begging for that original offer again. It says a lot when they'll pick Marcus Stroman over a Cy Young winner.
I understand, this is the first year he has pitched a lot of innings since 2018 so who knows if he can come out and replicate what he did this past season. The market is just super stagnant now so if he gets 200 million it will have to be from a more desperate team. He is still very good and I agree what you’re getting with him.
I agree with you he hasn’t pitched this many innings in years so it’s a question if he can continue to put up these numbers consistently. He will probably regret not taking the Yankees deal.
@@The_Midwest_Slugger The bigger problem/issue is his agent, who is bad for the sport, in my opinion. His asking price is comical, and no team is taking the bait. Pitchers and Catchers report in like three weeks, could he possibly still be on the market mid February?
