The Yankees, Red Sox and Orioles all passed up opportunities to sign top pitchers Blake Snell and Yusei Kikuchi, while they were focused on acquiring Juan Soto.
MLB free agency is heating up as teams compete for Juan Soto following the Los Angeles Dodgers’ World Series win and Shohei Ohtani’s MVP award. While the Yankees prioritized re-signing Soto, the Dodgers secured a five-year, $182 million contract with Blake Snell. However, the Red Sox and Orioles, both contenders for Soto, failed to sign Snell and Yusei Kikuchi from the Houston Astros.
According to MLB columnist Jon Heyman, the Red Sox were looking for both Snell and Kikuchi before passing up. The team is actively looking to improve the rotation, with a preference for left-handed pitchers. Despite falling short of their targets, reports suggest the Red Sox will now focus on other top pitchers available on the market.
It’s notable that the Yankees, Red Sox, and Orioles were all trying to land Blake Snell before he ultimately signed with the Dodgers. Senior reporter and MLB insider Mark Feinsand expects these three teams to remain active in the pitching market, with pitchers like Corbin Burnes, Max Fried and Jack Flaherty among the top options.
The Red Sox, in particular, had their sights set on Blake Snell, who had an impressive season with the San Francisco Giants. However, Snell decided to join the Dodgers in free agency, potentially driven by a desire to maximize his chances of winning a World Series. After a difficult 2023 season marred by injuries, Snell bounced back and pitched the second-highest innings of his career last season, leading MLB in complete games with two. During his time with the Atlanta Braves, Snell maintained an impressive 3.07 ERA (140 ERA+) and a WHIP of 1.164.
With Snell out of the picture, the Red Sox shifted their focus to Max Fried, aiming to secure another impact pitcher. The team has been trying to improve its performance for some time after missing the playoffs for three consecutive years. The previous season, they finished with an 81-81 record, placing third in the competitive American League East division.
As for the Orioles, their search for top pitchers Snell and Kikuchi ended in disappointment. The team will now have to explore other options to bolster their pitching staff.
Bottom line, the Yankees, Red Sox and Orioles failed to secure top pitchers Blake Snell and Yusei Kikuchi in their pursuit of Juan Soto. While the Dodgers have secured Snell, the Red Sox are now focusing on Max Fried, and all three teams are expected to continue actively pursuing pitching talent on the market.
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The Yankees, Red Sox and Orioles fail to sign Blake Snell and Yusei Kikuchi while pursuing Juan Soto. Find out who these teams are targeting now for their pitching needs.
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1. Yankees, Red Sox, Orioles
2. Blake Snell, Yusei Kikuchi
3. MLB free agency
4. Juan Soto
5. pitcher market, Max Fried, Corbin Burnes, Jack Flaherty
