Blake Snell remained with the San Francisco Giants after the July 30 trade deadline passed. The Giants’ high asking price and their intention to keep their ace for a playoff push effectively blocked any major trades involving Snell.
Teams such as the Orioles, Padres, Yankees, Mets, and Cubs were reported to have shown interest in Snell. Additionally, according to Jon Heyman of the New York Post, the Dodgers and Rangers also inquired about Snell’s availability.
The level of interest from these teams is unclear, and Heyman’s use of “check in” suggests a preliminary exploration of how open the Giants might have been to trading Snell and the potential cost involved. Snell would have been a valuable addition to any rotation, particularly for the Dodgers and Rangers, who have faced pitching injuries throughout the season.
Given that the Giants and Dodgers have only completed two trades since 1968, it seems unlikely that San Francisco was seriously considering trading an ace pitcher to their long-time rivals. Even though Giants president Farhan Zaidi previously served as the Dodgers’ GM, any discussions about Snell between Zaidi and current Dodgers president Andrew Friedman were likely brief.
Los Angeles ended up acquiring Jack Flaherty as their major pitching acquisition at the deadline and will rely on Flaherty and returning injured pitchers to strengthen their staff for the remainder of the season and playoffs.
For the Rangers, acquiring Snell would have been a significant move at a relatively quiet deadline. Texas made only modest trades, bringing in Andrew Chafin and Carson Kelly from the Tigers, while Michael Lorenzen went to the Royals. The Rangers’ minimal activity highlighted their uncertainty about pushing for a strong finish with a roster that has underperformed. Texas, which was at a 51-52 record on July 25, has since lost nine of their last 12 games, likely diminishing their chances of defending their World Series title.
Like the Dodgers, the Rangers have also been missing several key pitchers for most of the year. Although some were expected to return midseason, Max Scherzer’s return was brief, and other pitchers, including Jon Gray, have suffered injuries. A major move like acquiring Snell could have been risky if the rest of the roster wasn’t performing well, so the Rangers might have only had a superficial interest in Snell.
Looking ahead, both the Dodgers and Rangers might remain interested in Snell during the offseason. Snell has the option to opt out of the second year of his contract with the Giants and re-enter free agency, which seems likely given his strong performance since returning from the IL. According to rival general managers, it would take a severe injury for Snell to exercise his 2025 player option and stay with San Francisco. With substantial financial flexibility for both teams this winter, the Dodgers and Rangers could be potential suitors if Snell becomes available on the open market.
