Snell opts out of second year with SF Giants, set to test free agent market again

After one season with the Giants, two-time Cy Young winner Blake Snell is headed back to free agency in search of the long-term deal that eluded him last winter.

Snell, as expected, on Friday declined his $38.5 million player option, according to the Giants.

The lefty, who turns 32 in December, is expected to receive a lot of interest in the free agent market. But that also figured to be the case last season when he was coming off a Cy Young Award season with the Padres when he went 14-9 with a 2.25 ERA.

But Snell couldn’t find a deal until March 19 and didn’t make his debut with the Giants until the fourth series of the season.

Snell did pitch a no-hitter for the Giants, but overall had a 3.12 ERA and 145 strikeouts over 20 starts. He ended the season on a high note, producing a league-best 1.23 ERA in 14 starts after July 8 with 114 strikeouts in 80⅓ innings.

“I think that was more on teams. It wasn’t on me,” Snell told reporters following his final start of the season in September. “I think what I was able to accomplish this year will make teams be more aggressive earlier.”

Snell and the Giants could agree to another contract this offseason, but the left-hander will likely seek a longer-term contract worth nine figures after getting a two-year, $62 million deal last spring.

Check back for more on this developing story