Giants' Zaidi: Re-signing Snell will be 'priority'

San Francisco Giants president of baseball operations Farhan Zaidi said that bringing back left-hander Blake Snell will be a "priority" this offseason, according to Maria Guardado of MLB.com.

However, Zaidi acknowledged Snell will likely generate strong interest in free agency, as the latter is expected to opt out of the final season of the two-year, $62-million deal he inked with the Giants in March.

"He's been the best pitcher in baseball the second half of the season," Zaidi said. "I just think he's going to go into free agency kind of the same way he did last offseason. He wants to keep an open mind. We're very encouraged about what he said about being here, how much he likes being here, how much he's enjoyed his time in San Francisco. How much he likes playing for (manager) Bob (Melvin).

"I think we'll be pretty high on his list. But I think we're respecting the fact that he's going to want to play out free agency. I expect us to be part of that. But I think this should be very competitive with the way he's pitched."

Snell authored a 3.12 ERA with 1.05 WHIP and a career-high 12.5 K/9 over 104 innings (20 starts). The 31-year-old went 5-0 with a 1.23 ERA and 114 strikeouts over 80 1/3 innings in 14 starts to end the season after battling injuries in the first half. He threw a no-hitter against the Cincinnati Reds in early August.

The two-time Cy Young winner said he'd welcome a return to San Francisco.

"I love it here," Snell said. "I think we can be really, really good. I see a lot of promise. I enjoyed being here. We'll see what happens. I don't like the whole having to decide and do all that. I just want to be somewhere that wants me, that loves me and will invest in me to be the best player that I can be to help them win. I like it here. I hope it's here."