San Antonio Express-News (Sunday)
Lefty Snell hits Houston’s radar
WEST PALM BEACH,
Fla. — Facing questions in their rotation, the Astros are showing interest in free-agent starter Blake Snell, a person with knowledge of the situation confirmed to Hearst Newspapers.
Snell, the 31-year-old lefthander and reigning National League Cy Young award winner, remains unsigned with less than two weeks to go before opening day. The Athletic first reported the Astros' pursuit of Snell on Friday evening.
Hours earlier, Astros starter José Urquidy exited a minorleague game because of a sore elbow, according to manager
Joe Espada. Houston will also start the season without ace Justin Verlander, who will begin it on the injured list as he builds up from an offseason shoulder issue.
If Urquidy is sidelined, Houston could field an initial five-man rotation of Framber Valdez, Cristian Javier, Hunter Brown, J.P. France and Ronel Blanco. But the potential addition of Snell would instantly fortify a unit that appears much thinner now than when the Astros opened camp.
It would also mark the second free-agent splash this offseason for an Astros organization that has mostly eschewed them under owner Jim Crane. Houston signed closer Josh Hader, a teammate of Snell last year in San Diego, to a fiveyear, $95 million deal in January.
Snell, a two-time Cy Young winner, could seek a contract in the $30 million range annually, according to reports. The Astros are already projected to exceed the 2024 competitive balance tax with their current roster and would stand to blow past it with the addition of another marquee free agent.
The Astros have exceeded the luxury tax once previously in Crane's tenure. Luxury tax penalties reset if a team dips below the tax threshold, meaning if the Astros do incur penalties this season, they could try to maneuver payroll back under the threshold in 2025.
Snell, like Hader, rejected a qualifying offer from the Padres
to become a free agent this winter. In signing Hader, the Astros forfeited their secondround pick in the 2024 draft and $500,000 from their bonus pool for the next international signing period. If they signed another player attached to a qualifying offer, such as Snell, they would also forfeit their third-highest draft pick in 2024 and another $500,000.
Snell and starter Jordan Montgomery, both clients of agent Scott Boras, are still free agents despite being among the top starting pitchers on the market this winter. Snell led qualified major-league starters with a 2.25 ERA in 2023 and led the majors with 99 walks while going 14-9 in 32 starts for San Diego.
Valdez gets nod for third straight opener
With Verlander headed to the injured list when the season begins, the Astros' opening day starter seemed like an easy choice, but the club made it official Friday. Valdez will make his third straight opening day start when he takes the mound against the Yankees on
March 28 at Minute Maid Park.
Only five other Astros pitchers — Roy Oswalt (8), J.R. Richard (5), Mike Scott (5), Shane Reynolds (5) and Larry Dierker (4) — have made more opening day starts.
“It's a big moment,” Espada said. “Valdez has worked really hard to get this opportunity and I'm excited for him. We had a conversation in the office and he was all jacked up about it.”
Reporters at spring training have frequently asked Espada who his opening day starter would be, but they weren't the only inquisitive ones.
“He said his mom has been asking him the last couple weeks about it,” Espada said with a laugh. “And my mom is asking me, too: ‘Joe, who are you going to name your opening day starter?' ”
The 30-year-old Valdez said his mom was thrilled with the news.
“Obviously, I always have her in the forefront when it comes to things like this,” said Valdez. “We always talk baseball, so she was very happy that I was getting the opportunity.”
Blanco states his case with impressive start
Even as rumors swirled about Snell, Blanco did all he could to earn a spot in the big league starting rotation Friday.
Blanco threw four scoreless innings, not allowing a hit, striking out five and walking two in a 5-3 win over the Phillies at Cacti Park of the Palm Beaches.
“He was really good,” Espada said. “… He's throwing the ball really, really well.”
It's been that way all camp for the 30-year-old right-hander who made the opening day roster last season after another strong Grapefruit League stretch. He's now made four starts this spring and has yet to allow a run in 112⁄3 innings.
“I'm just trying to make the best pitches possible, trying to use my slider and my changeup and they were working,” Blanco said through an interpreter.
Blanco broke camp with the big league club last year as a long reliever, but eventually also made seven starts. He finished the year with a 4.50 ERA, striking out 52 batters and walking 28 in 52 innings.