It looks like Ha-Sung Kim (28-San Diego) is running out of time with his teammate and best friend, left-hander Blake Snell (31).
USA Today baseball writer Bob Nightingale recently quoted St. Louis team president John Mozeliak as saying, “The Cardinals are looking to add at least three starting pitchers in free agency this winter, with Julio Urias (27-L.A. Dodgers), Snell and Aaron Nola (30-Philadelphia) the most likely candidates.”
Of the three, the Cardinals are said to be the favorites to land Snell, which will likely drive up his price tag in free agency. Snell will become a free agent at the end of this season, when his five-year extension with Tampa Bay expires.
The Washington State native made his major league debut with Tampa Bay in 2016 and was a mediocre pitcher with just 11 wins through 2017. But in 2018, he broke out, going 21-5 with a 1.89 ERA and winning the American League Cy Young Award that year. Tampa Bay rushed to give him a five-year, $50 million extension.
However, after winning just six games in 2019 and four in 2020 due to injuries and the effects of COVID-19, Snell was traded to San Diego after the 2020 season. He didn’t live up to his reputation, winning seven games in 2021 and eight last year, but this year he’s a different pitcher.
As of Sept. 25, he has started 26 games this season, posting a 10-9 record with 184 strikeouts and a 2.73 ERA. He leads the Major League Baseball (ML) in ERA, ranks second in the National League (NL) in strikeouts, and is tied for ninth in wins. The New York Post recently reported that “Snell’s name is at the top of the list of pitchers the Yankees are looking to acquire this winter.”먹튀검증
“I’m grateful that Snell treated me well and took care of me when I was new to the environment in my first year in the major leagues,” Kim told Star News in the past. However, it seems unlikely that the two will be playing together in San Diego next year, as many teams are interested in Snell, who has been performing well ahead of his free agency.