Potential Red Sox Target Who Would Fill Need Opts For Free Agency

There might not be a more important offseason task for the Boston Red Sox than acquiring high-end pitching.

Several big-name pitchers like Corbin Burnes and Jack Flaherty are set to hit the open market in search of new deals and another option in that department reportedly became available Friday.

MLB.com’s Mark Feinsand reported that San Francisco Giants star Blake Snell decided to decline his $38.5 million player option to hit free agency once again. It’s the second year in a row that the two-time Cy Young Award winner elected to go on the open market.

Snell, who went 5-3 with a 3.12 ERA in 20 starts with the Giants this past season, does have a pedigree of success and the left-hander would be an intriguing piece at the top of the Red Sox starting rotation.

Snell could slot in as the frontline starter the Red Sox need, taking pressure off the other members of the rotation in Tanner Houck, Brayan Bello, Kutter Crawford and Lucas Giolito, who exercised his $19.25 million player option to stay with the Red Sox. Snell would give the Red Sox not only a valuable arm, but something they didn’t have on the starting staff in 2024: a left-hander.

The 32-year-old would come with experience pitching in the American League after spending the first five seasons of his career with the Tampa Bay Rays. He elevated into of one of the best pitchers in MLB in 2018 when he posted a 21-5 record with a pristine 1.89 ERA and 221 strikeouts in 180 2/3 innings.

Snell then spent three seasons with the San Diego Padres and finished off his time there in 2023 by taking home National League Cy Young Award honors. Having Snell recapture that form after dealing with a couple of injuries last season would be a massive benefit for the Red Sox.

Snell probably is looking to land one last sizable, multi-year contract in free agency. It remains to be seen whether the Red Sox would be tempted to give him that, especially with Snell on the wrong side of 30.

Snell, who is a Scott Boras client, most likely won’t be in a rush to sign anywhere. It took him until a couple of weeks before the start of the season to agree to join the Giants.

So if Snell has a similar mindset this offseason, the Red Sox should have some time to determine if he’s the top-of-the-line pitcher they want to pursue in free agency.