Rumor: Red Sox Meet With Blake Snell

[Matthew Lenz]

According to Ken Rosenthal of The Athletic the Red Sox met with Blake Snell recently ($$). This is now the frontline fourth starter that the Red Sox have been tied, which isn't surprising as it is the number one need for a team that looks to get back to the playoffs in 2025 for the first time in three seasons.

Snell, who pitched in the spacious confines of Oracle Park for the San Francisco Giants in 2025, also met with the Los Angeles Dodgers this week. The 32-year-old lefty made 20 starts for the bay area team posting a 3.12 ERA / 2.43 FIP and a very good K-BB rate of 24.2% generating elite whiff and quality of contact metrics. Not only is there a clear need on the Red Sox roster, but  throughout his career he his adjusted home runs by park has produced 11 fewer home runs in Fenway Park as compared to the 115 that he has actually surrendered. Although injuries have been a concern, he has produced two Cy Young seasons in his healthiest campaigns (2018, 2023) where he exceeded 30 starts.

Snell's arsenal features one of the best curveballs in the game that produced a 49.8 whiff rate, as well as an above average 96 mile-per-hour four seam fastball that held opposing hitters to a .200 batting average in 2024. He also has a very good change up and slider despite their below average movement profiles.

Of all the pitchers the Red Sox have been tied to, which one would you like them to add the most?

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[mvp 78]

I'm NOT a Blake Snell guy. 

[Bellhorn04]

We're in on everything! 😀

[moonslav59]

16 minutes ago, mvp 78 said:

I'm NOT a Blake Snell guy. 

I'm not either.

Too unreliable, and that has been a major issue with our rotation.

[mvp 78]

20 minutes ago, Bellhorn04 said:

We're in on everything! 😀

The interest kings are back, baby! 

[Brock Beauchamp]

35 minutes ago, mvp 78 said:

I'm NOT a Blake Snell guy. 

I find watching him pitch to be agonizing.

But damn, he's good.

[mvp 78]

Just now, Brock Beauchamp said:

I find watching him pitch to be agonizing.

But damn, he's good.

He has too much Clay Buchholz energy IMO.

I think that analogy may resonate with a lot of Sox fans here. 

[Bellhorn04]

Blake the Snake, man.  Of course I'd love to have him. 

But only on the "right deal". (LOL LOL)

[moonslav59]

7 minutes ago, mvp 78 said:

He has too much Clay Buchholz energy IMO.

I think that analogy may resonate with a lot of Sox fans here. 

That is the perfect comp.

Over the last 30 years (170+ IP) Buch had the 30th best ERA- in 2010 at 54. Only Pedro (4 times) and Clemens (1 time) beat that number for the Sox.

Go to 108+ IP:

35 Pedro in 2000

37 Maddux '94

39 Maddux '95

42 Buch '13, Pedro '99 and Kershw '16

[Bellhorn04]

3 minutes ago, moonslav59 said:

That is the perfect comp.

Over the last 30 years (170+ IP) Buch had the 30th best ERA- in 2010 at 54. Only Pedro (4 times) and Clemens (1 time) beat that number for the Sox.

Go to 108+ IP:

35 Pedro in 2000

37 Maddux '94

39 Maddux '95

42 Buch '13, Pedro '99 and Kershw '16

How does this relate to Snell?

[Hugh2]

All this time I've been thinking about Fried/Burnes and I never thought that perhaps Snell is the one who can make me love again. 

I would love it if it could be on nothing more than a 5 year deal. 

[moonslav59]

31 minutes ago, Bellhorn04 said:

How does this relate to Snell?

MVP mentioned the Buch comp, and I wanted to remind us how great Buch could be, but never for 30 starts for many years in a row.