Giants' Snell opts out, will test free agency for 2nd straight year

San Francisco Giants left-hander Blake Snell opted out of the final year of his contract and is a free agent, the team announced Friday, according to Andrew Baggarly of The Athletic.

Snell elected to forgo a $30-million salary in 2025 in favor of testing free agency for a second straight season. He's ineligible to receive a qualifying offer from the Giants after declining one from the San Diego Padres last November.

Despite winning the 2023 NL Cy Young Award as a member of the Padres, Snell's market in free agency last year was cool. He joined the Giants on a two-year, $62-million contract late in spring training.

Although Snell made only 20 starts this year due to a combination of injuries and his late signing, he was one of San Francisco's best pitchers in 2024. The 31-year-old authored a 3.12 ERA and 1.05 WHIP with 145 strikeouts and a career-best 12.5 K/9 rate over 104 innings while allowing six home runs and lowering his walk rate below four. Snell threw a no-hitter in July, which also went into the books as his first career complete game and shutout.

Snell re-enters the market as one of the top free-agent starters and the best left-hander available this winter. He's represented by Scott Boras and will likely command a top salary as part of a long-term deal.

Over his nine-year career, Snell owns a 3.19 ERA, 3.35 FIP, and 1.22 WHIP with 1,368 strikeouts across 211 starts between the Giants, Padres, and Tampa Bay Rays. He's one of seven pitchers to win a Cy Young in both leagues, having also earned the AL honor with Tampa Bay in 2018.