Blake Snell — the 2018 American League Cy Young winner and 2023 National League Cy Young favorite — is now a free agent. After producing one of the best seasons of his career (proven by his league-leading 2.25 ERA), all 30 MLB teams are likely interested in Snell's services. Yet, it's Snell's family that might provide the final say in where he signs.
Dave and Jane Snell — the parents of Blake, Dru, Tyler, and David — raised their four sons in Seattle, Washington. Like Blake, Dave Snell was a former professional pitcher, as he was drafted in the 9th round of the 1982 MLB Draft by the San Francisco Giants and played in the minor leagues for six seasons. Dave currently coaches youth baseball in Shoreline, Washington — a 20 minute drive from Seattle.
Jane Snell worked as a hair stylist for four decades on the University of Washington campus. Although Jane and Dave Snell are now divorced, Jane also lives in Shoreline.
The oldest Snell brother is Dru. Although Dru prefers to keep his private life private, his facebook notes that he currently lives in Seattle with his wife and child.
Tyler Snell — Blake's twin brother, born just a few minutes before Blake — works and lives Lynnwood, Washington; which is one town away from Shoreline, and a 25 minute drive from Seattle.
David, the youngest Snell brother — who earned the nickname "Boots" from his three older brothers — once played baseball at Shoreline Community College and is currently a student at the University of Washington.
If the pattern here isn't clear enough yet, the entire Snell clan lives in or around Seattle, Washington. Well, the entire Snell clan minus Blake. Although if Blake let to let his family affect his free agency decision, they'd surely want him playing for the Seattle Mariners.
The Mariners make perfect sense for Blake Snell. Not only does his entire family live in the Seattle area, but the Mariners have the available payroll to sign him and already boast an impressive roster that's eager to win right now.
Seattle's starting pitching staff is solid, and includes Luis Castillo, Robbie Ray, and a couple of other talented arms. Yet, in order to contend with the two Texas teams in the AL West that are juggernauts on offense, the Mariners will need to strengthen their staff even further. What better way to do so than signing Blake Snell?
If the Mariners do decide to pursue Snell — and if Snell caters to his family's wishes, and signs with Seattle — the team would likely be one or two trades away from being a true World Series contender in 2024. If they were able to add another All-Star caliber bat to their lineup — perhaps by trading away some of their younger starting pitchers like Bryce Miller or Bryan Woo, as USA Today's Bob Nightengale suggests they might — then the Mariners faithful will have plenty of reason to be excited for 2024.
Yet the first step will be signing Blake Snell. Luckily for the Mariners, one would imagine that there are people already in Snell's ear, urging him to come home.
