Blake Snell Rumors: Astros in 'Serious Pursuit' of Star in 2024 MLB Free Agency

The Houston Astros are "engaged in serious pursuit" of reigning NL Cy Young Award winner Blake Snell, according to The Athletic's Ken Rosenthal and Chandler Rome.

Snell is reportedly seeking a "three-year deal with two opt outs," according to Rosenthal and Rome.

The Astros are seeking pitching help as the team prepares to start the season without injured pitchers Justin Verlander, Lance McCullers Jr. and Luis Garcia.

José Urquidy left a minor-league start early Friday with a sore elbow, potentially further thinning the team's pitching depth, according to Matt Kawahara of the Houston Chronicle.

Snell led the NL with a 2.25 ERA through 32 starts for the San Diego Padres last season.

Jon Heyman of the New York Post seconded the report from Rosenthal and Rome.

Snell pitched a "simulated four-inning outing" Friday in which he threw 60 pitches to gear up for the season, according to Heyman.

General manager Dana Brown said Thursday night that the Astros "always have our foot on the gas when it comes to winning and acquiring pitching," per Rome.

"As long as Snell is on the market, we check in to ask what is the latest. Nothing new as of now," Brown said.

The Astros aren't the only team interested in Snell, with the Los Angeles Angels and New York Yankees reportedly also interested in adding the two-time Cy Young Award winner to their rotation.

Texas has no state income tax, Rosenthal and Rome noted, making them a potentially attractive destination for Snell. The team would also benefit from not having to pay a 110 percent tax on each dollar of Snell's contract, which is what luxury tax threshold-surpassing Yankees would be charged for the deal.

However, because the Padres offered the starter a qualifying offer, Snell's new team will be forced to forfeit two draft picks. In the Astros' case, those would be No. 102 and 193.

That cost would hurt any team, but it's an especially steep price for Houston. The franchise is still recovering from losing its first- and second-round draft picks in 2020 and 2021 during the MLB's sign-stealing investigation.

The forfeited picks could still be worth it for a team in urgent need of pitching help on Opening Day, especially considering that Urquidy struggled last season while missing three months with a shoulder injury. Even if he is ready to go at the season start, the Astros could use a veteran addition to the rotation.