SAN DIEGO – Blake Snell gave up the ball in Game 6 of the World Series as he shook his head after the curious change of manager Kevin Cash.
With a three-year contract, Snell is hardly considering it as his last moment as a Tampa Bay Ray.
The San Diego Padres, determined to go all the way, wanted him just as much.
The emerging Padres finished their acquisition of the bait left hand of the Rays on Tuesday and sent four prospects in exchange for the winner of the 2018 American League Cy Young Award.
The Rays host right-handers Luis Patino and Cole Wilcox and catchers Francisco Mejia and Blake Hunt – all respected youngsters from a San Diego system who have been on the farm for years. The Padres parted ways with the quartet for a 28-year-old with World Series experience and a youthful confidence who teamed up with stars Fernando Tatis Jr. and Manny Machado had to fit in.
Snell gives the rising Padres an established bait at the front of the rotation as they try to catch the Los Angeles Dodgers in the National League West. San Diego is also on the verge of acquiring Chicago Cubs starter Yu Darvish, sources familiar with the deal told ESPN’s Jesse Rogers and Jeff Passan.
“They are very exciting,” Snell said. “They are a team that plays with a lot of fun. They are swinging and they can swing the bat.”
Snell started 4-2 with a 3.24 ERA in 11 during the pandemic-shortened 2020 season, then 2-2 with a 3.03 ERA in six post-seasons for the U.S. league champions.
He spectacularly knocked out the sixth innings of the World Series Game 6 against the Dodgers before Cash pulled him to 73 spots. The move bounced back when Los Angeles won a 3-1 victory in the series.
Snell stands behind Cash’s decision and reiterates that support on Tuesday.
“I respect him and I have always trusted him,” Snell said. “He knows how to win. We came to the World Series because we won.”
Snell said he was dumbfounded and sad to leave Tampa Bay. He expected the Rays to trade him before his contract expired, as the small-budget franchise was unlikely to commit to a long-term deal. But he hardly expected the move to take place any time soon.
“The Padres really wanted me and they were persistent, and I’m glad about that,” Snell said. “But it’s something I’m sad about.”
With a young and talented team that has TatÃs at shortstop and Machado at third base, the Padres achieved the second best record in the NK 37-23 last season – six games behind Los Angeles – and the playoff game for the first times since 2006.
San Diego’s rotation with injury was in shambles when the post-season arrived, but the Padres were able to pass St. Louis in the first round. Louis arrives before being swept away by the Dodgers in the division series in three games.
Mike Clevinger, who was acquired by Cleveland in August, will only be taken back after an operation in Tommy John after 2022, but the Padres have other quality starts in Dinelson Lamet and Chris Paddack. The left-handed MacKenzie Gore is one of the best prospects for baseball, the jewel of a deep farm system.
“This team can play and we are going to chase a World Series, which is obviously the most exciting piece for this whole thing,” Snell said.
Among all left-handed starters in the majors last year, Snell finished first in the pass percentage (31%) and sixth in the ERA.
“This acquisition is in line with our overall strategy to build a consistent winning club for the great city of San Diego,” said Peter Seidler, owner of Padres. “I welcome Blake to the Padres and know he will enjoy playing for our enthusiastic and supportive fans in 2021 and beyond.”
Snell has three years and $ 39 million left on a $ 50 million five-year contract he signed with the Rays in March 2019. He owes $ 10.5 million next year, $ 12.5 million in 2022 and $ 16 million in 2023 – bargain prices for one of baseball’s best pitchers.
Patino may be competing to take Snell’s vacant spot in Tampa Bay’s 2021 rotation. The 21-year-old from Colombia is one of the best prospects in baseball with a hard speed ball and a plus slider. He made his biggest league debut in 2020 with ten relay performances and one start, 1-0 with a 5.19 era. He hit 21, but ran 14 over 17 innings.
Wilcox, 21, was taken in the third round of the University of Georgia’s 2020 draft. At 6-foot-5, Wilcox showed excellent things, but sometimes struggled with his control.
Mejia, 25, became San Diego’s leading catcher during the 2019 season, hitting .265 with 79 homers in 79 games. An injury to his left thumb limited him to 17 games in 2020. Mejia is one of the most promising young catchers in the game since making headlines with some 50 hits in minor leagues, though there are still questions about his reliability.
Hunt (22) spent 2019 in Class A before the minor season 2020 was wiped out by the coronavirus. He batted 0.255 with five homers in 89 games for the Fort Wayne TinCaps two seasons ago.
The Associated Press contributed to this report.