Snell declined his $30 million player option for 2025 on Friday, Maria I. Guardado of MLB.com reports.
Snell probably would have stuck around had he been forced to make his decision following a slow start to his 2024 campaign. However, after collecting a microscopic 1.23 ERA and 114:30 K:BB in 80.1 innings over his final 14 starts, hitting the free-agent market again was a no-brainer. Presumably, Snell will stand a better chance this time around at landing the lucrative, multi-year deal he looked for last winter.
Snell (5-3) allowed two hits and a walk over six shutout frames Sunday, striking out nine and earning a win over the Royals.
Snell did not allow a runner to reach scoring position in his dominant performance. He generated 12 whiffs on 88 total pitches and, at one point, struck out five straight batters. Snell has yielded two or fewer runs in eight consecutive starts, resulting in a terrific 1.31 ERA and 65:19 K:BB during that span. He owns a 3.12 ERA through 104 innings this season, but looking at his numbers since returning from the injured list July 9, that number drops to 1.23 through 80.1 frames. Snell's final start of the 2024 campaign is projected to be next weekend at home against the Cardinals.
