SAN DIEGO – Blake Snell gave up the ball in Game 6 of the World Series, shaking his head after the curious change of pitcher of manager Kevin Cash.
With three years left on his contract, Snell barely thought this could be his final moment with the Tampa Bay Rays.
The San Diego Padres, determined to go the distance, wanted him very much.
The parent parents completed the acquisition of Rays’ Southpaw ace on Tuesday, sending four prospects in exchange for the winner of the 2018 Cy League League of the American League.
Rays will host the rights of Luis Patiño and Cole Wilcox and wide receivers Francisco Mejía and Blake Hunt – all considered a good reward from a San Diego system that has provided the farm for years. Padres left the quartet for a 28-year-old with experience in the World Series, who should fit alongside stars Fernando Tatis Jr. and Manny Machado.
Snell offers the growing Padres an established ace at the top of the rotation as he tries to catch the Los Angeles Dodgers in the NL West. San Diego is also on the verge of acquiring Chicago Cubs owner Yu Darvish, sources familiar with the deal, ESPN’s Jesse Rogers and Jeff Passan, said.
“They’re super exciting,” Snell said. “They are a team that plays with a lot of fun. They are praised and they can hit.”
Snell was 4-1 with 3.24 ERA in 11 starts during the regular 2020 season shortened by the pandemic, then went 2-2 with 3.03 ERA in six postseason starts for the American League champions.
He threw spectacularly in the sixth inning of Game 6 of the World Series against the Dodgers, before Cash took him out after 73 pitches. The move was triggered as Los Angeles rallied for a 3-1 victory that secured the series.
Snell backed Cash’s decision and reiterated that support on Tuesday.
“I respect him and I’ve always trusted him,” Snell said. “You know how to win. I got to the World Series because I won.”
Snell said he was amazed and saddened to leave Tampa Bay. He anticipated that Rays would trade it before the expiration of his contract, as the low-budget franchise is unlikely to commit to a long-term deal. But I didn’t expect the move to come so soon.
“Padre really loved me and they were persevering and I’m happy about that,” Snell said. – But it’s something that makes me sad.
With a young and talented team, featuring Tatís Jr at the short break and Machado at third base, the Padres finished with the second-best record in the National League this year at 37-23 – six games behind Los Angeles. and made the National League playoffs for the first time since 2006.
The exhausted rotation of accidents in San Diego was in ruins as the postseason passed, but the Padres managed to defeat Cardinals St. Louis. Louis in the first round before being swept away in three Dodgers games in the division series.
Mike Clevinger, acquired from the Cleveland Indians in August, is not expected to return from Operation Tommy John until 2022, but the parents have other quality holders in Dinelson Lamet, Zach Davies and Chris Paddack. Left-handed MacKenzie Gore is one of the best potential baseball players, the jewel of a deep farming system.
“This team can play and we will watch a World Series, which is obviously the most interesting piece of all,” Snell said.
Of all those who started left-handed in last year’s major leagues, Snell ranked first in the hit percentage (31%) and sixth in the ERA.
“This acquisition is consistent with our overall strategy of building a consistently winning baseball club for the great city of San Diego,” said Padres owner Peter Seidler. “I welcome Blake to the Padres and I know he will be happy to play for our enthusiastic and supportive fans in 2021 and beyond.”
Snell has three more years and $ 39 million on a $ 50 million five-year contract he signed with Rays in March 2019. He is owed $ 10.5 million next year, $ 12.5 million. dollars in 2022 and $ 16 million in 2023 – Negotiate payments for one of the best baseball players.
Patiño could compete to fill Snell’s vacancy in the Tampa Bay rotation in 2021. The 21-year-old Colombian is among the best prospects in baseball pitching, with a heavy fastball and a plus slider. He made his major league debut in 2020 with 10 appearances in relief and one start, going 1-0 with a VRA of 5.19. He broke 21, but went 14 in 17 1/3 innings.
Wilcox is a 21-year-old who was selected in the third round of the University of Georgia project in 2020. At 6-foot-5, Wilcox showed remarkable things, but sometimes struggled with his control.
Mejia, 25, became San Diego’s biggest receiver during the 2019 season, hitting .265 with eight turnovers in 79 games. A left thumb injury limited him to 17 games in 2020. Mejia has been among the game’s most promising young contenders since making titles in a series of 50 minor league games, although questions remain about his defensive reliability. .
Hunt is a 22-year-old who spent 2019 in Class A before the minor league season 2020 was eliminated by the coronavirus. He won .255 five rounds at home in 89 games for Fort Wayne TinCaps two seasons ago.
The Associated Press contributed to this report.