Giants ‘wish’ they could trade away star with $38 million option looming

The San Francisco Giants went all in over the offseason but might regret it now.

The team spent more than $200 million on free agents only to find themselves more than seven games back from a playoff spot down the stretch of the regular season.

One of the team’s most expensive signings was for two-time Cy Young Award winner Blake Snell, who is earning $23.5 million this season with a $38.5 million player option for next year as well. And while Snell has been pitching well, that salary has left the Giants wishing it could have traded the veteran away, according to Bleacher Report’s Kerry Miller.

“There were rumors ahead of the deadline that the G-Men might be willing to move Snell and his massive player option for 2025, but it didn't happen,” Miller noted. “Since the beginning of July, he has made 11 starts with a 1.42 ERA, including a no-hitter against the Reds. Some lot of good that has done the Giants, though, who have played .500 baseball since the beginning of July and are now as good as dead in the wild-card race.”

Snell has not been the only disappointing offseason signing for the Giants. The team gave Korean superstar Jung-hoo Lee a six-year, $113 million deal only to see him succumb to a season-ending injury in May. And they signed outfielder Jorge Soler to a three-year, $42 million deal only to trade him to the Atlanta Braves just ahead of the deadline.

They also signed third baseman Matt Chapman to a three-year, $54 million contract in the offseason and opted to give him a major extension as he’s played up to expectations.

Snell, though he’s played well too, is a different story. As a 31-year-old who has never reached 181 innings in any season of his nine-year career, the Giants are likely eager to move on from his cost as they seem unlikely to contend this year or next. Even though the trade deadline has passed, it seems likely the Giants will be free of Snell’s $38.5 million option next season.

“Giants ace Blake Snell, after a horrific first half, will exercise his opt-out clause after yielding 2.08 ERA with 63 strikeouts and a no-hitter in his last eight starts,” Bob Nightengale reported for USA Today. “One thing’s for sure: Snell won’t wait until spring training to sign this time around.”

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