Dodgers' Blake Snell: 'Giants Didn’t Even Talk to Me' About Contract in Free Agency

The San Francisco Giants didn't talk to left-handed starting pitcher Blake Snell about a new contract in free agency before he signed a five-year, $182 million contract with the Los Angeles Dodgers, per Susan Slusser of the San Francisco Chronicle.

"The Giants didn’t even talk to me. It was surprising — I thought they really liked me," Snell said Sunday.

Snell signed a two-year, $62 million deal with the Giants in March 2024, but he held a player option for the 2025 campaign. The two-time Cy Young winner then opted out of his deal this offseason after going 5-3 with a 3.12 ERA (1.05 WHIP) and 145 strikeouts in 104.0 innings (20 starts).

Despite his close relationships with manager Bob Melvin, starting pitcher Logan Webb and third baseman Matt Chapman, nothing materialized with San Francisco.

“I know Bob loves me, and I’m really close with Logan and Chappy. So I was shocked," Snell said. I thought they’d come after me right away. I really liked it there. I was happy there. But they never even said anything to me.

“I texted Bob and he didn’t reply, and Bob always replies to me, so I kind of had a feeling. But it was weird, especially with all the other teams that were interested in me.”

All is well between Snell and Melvin now, with the left-hander understanding that "managers sometimes have to go radio silent during free-agent season," as Slusser noted. But Snell has moved onto the Giants' arch-rivals now after landing a big deal.

It's unclear why the Giants never went after Snell, but perhaps his market was too rich for San Francisco's liking. The left-hander caught fire down the stretch after injuries and ineffectiveness characterized the first half of his 2024 season, as ESPN's Jeff Passan and Jorge Castillo wrote.

"In 14 starts from early July to late September, the 31-year-old left-hander posted a 1.23 ERA with 114 strikeouts and 30 walks in 80⅓ innings," the ESPN duo relayed. "On Aug. 2, he threw a no-hitter against the Cincinnati Reds. In eight other instances, he completed at least six innings and allowed no more than two runs."

Snell has gone 0-3 with a 9.51 ERA after his first six appearances, and he dealt with a left adductor strain and then a left groin strain, both of which landed him on the injured list. But his value clearly sky-rocketed down the stretch, leading to the defending World Series champions giving him an offer he couldn't refuse.