In the midst of a horribly disappointing season for the San Diego Padres, trade rumors are swirling around former Cy Young winner Blake Snell.
Padres General Manager, AJ Preller, may be considering moving assets as they find themselves trailing significantly in the division.
One team that has emerged as a potential landing spot for Snell is the Philadelphia Phillies, a National League contender looking to strengthen its rotation.
Zachary Rotman of Friars on Base brought attention to the Phillies interest in Snell. While they are still far behind the division-leading Braves, they have a legitimate shot at a wild card spot.
The Phillies primary need is a fifth starter, not necessarily an ace like Snell, considering they already boast a solid rotation with Aaron Nola, Zack Wheeler, Taijuan Walker, and Ranger Suarez.
However, the addition of Snell to their rotation could dramatically change the dynamic of last year’s NL champs.
Snell has been in outstanding form this season, boasting an impressive 2.71 ERA and 1.22 WHIP over 19 starts and 103 innings. His performance has been particularly remarkable since overcoming a rough start to the season, having allowed just three earned runs in his last 47 innings pitched over eight starts.
With Snell set to become a free agent after this season, the Phillies could potentially secure a discounted rental deal for the star pitcher.
The option of re-signing Snell as part of their core moving forward would also be on the table. Although catching up to the Braves in the NL East seems unlikely, the Phillies proved last year that they could still be formidable competitors despite falling short.
Should the Phillies decide to pursue Snell, the trade talks might open up the possibility of an even more significant blockbuster deal, potentially involving other players like Soto.
Should the disappointing Padres trade off their stars?
If the Phillies were able to acquire Snell, how would you like their chances against the Braves in the playoffs?