SAN DIEGO – Blake Snell gave up the ball in Game 6 of the World Series, shaking his head after manager Kevin Cash’s curious pitcher change.
With three years remaining on his contract, Snell barely considered this could be his final moment with the Tampa Bay Rays.
The San Diego Padres, determined to make it to the end, longed for it.
Newcomers Parents ended their acquisition of the Rays ’left ace on Tuesday, sending 4 p.m. prospects in exchange for the 2018 American League Cy Young Award winner.
The Rays will receive the rights to Luis Patiño and Cole Wilcox and receivers Francisco Mejía and Blake Hunt – all considered a good reward for a San Diego system that has been supplying the farm for years. The Parents got rid of the quartet for a 28-year-old player with World Series experience and who should fit alongside stars Fernando Tatis Jr. and Manny Machado.
Snell gives the Ascending Fathers an established ace at the top of the rotation as they try to catch the Los Angeles Dodgers in the Western Division of the National League. San Diego is also about to acquire Chicago Cubs opener Yu Darvish, sources familiar with the deal said Jesse Rogers and Jeff are going through ESPN.
“They’re super exciting,” Snell said. “They’re a team that plays a lot of fun. They’re braggarts and they can beat.”
Snell had a 4-1 record with a 3.24 ERA in 11 openings during the 2020 season shortened by the pandemic, then a 2-2 ERA with a 3.03 ERA in six postseason openings for the American League champions.
He pitched spectacularly until the sixth inning of Game 6 of the World Series against the Dodgers, before Cash took him out after 73 pitches. The move came out on top when Los Angeles bounced back for a 3-1 win that secured the series.
Snell backed Cash’s decision and reiterated that support Tuesday.
“Respect and I’ve always trusted him,” Snell said. “He knows how to win. We got to the World Series because we won.”
Snell said he was stunned and saddened to leave Tampa Bay. He anticipated that the Rays would change him before his contract expired, as the low-budget franchise was unlikely to commit to a long-term deal. But I didn’t expect the move to come so soon.
“Parents really loved me and were persistent, and I’m happy for that,” Snell said. “But it’s something that saddens me.”
With a young and talented team featuring Tatis Jr. on the short field and Machado on third base, the Parents finished second in the National League record this year with 37-23 –six games behind Los Angeles- – and reached the National League playoffs for the first time since 2006.
San Diego’s declining injury rotation was in ruins when the postseason arrived, but the Fathers managed to beat St. Louis. Louis Cardinals in the first round before being swept in three games by the Dodgers in the divisional series.
Mike Clevinger, acquired from the Cleveland Indians in August, is not expected to return from Tommy John surgery until 2022, but the Parents have other quality openers in Dinelson Lamet, Zach Davies and Chris Paddack. Left-hander MacKenzie Gore is one of baseball’s best potential pitchers, the jewel of a deep farm system.
“This team can play and we’re going to chase a World Series, which is obviously the most exciting piece of it all,” Snell said.
Among all the left openers in the Major Leagues last year, Snell ranked first in strikeout percentage (31%) and sixth in effectiveness.
“This acquisition is in line with our overall strategy to build a winning baseball club for the big city of San Diego,” said Parents owner Peter Seidler. “I welcome Blake to the Parents and I know he will enjoy playing for our enthusiastic and understanding fans in 2021 and beyond.”
Snell has three years and $ 39 million left in a $ 50 million, five-year contract he signed with the Rays in March 2019. He has $ 10,500,000 next year, $ 12.5 million in 2022 and $ 16million in 2023 –gangle payments for one of the best pitchers in baseball.
Patiño could compete for Snell’s vacancy in the Tampa Bay rotation in 2021. The 21-year-old Colombian is among the best pitching prospects in baseball with a hard straight and a slider plus. He made his Major League debut in 2020 with 10 appearances as a reliever and an opening, with a mark of 1-0 with an effectiveness of 5.19. He struck out at 21, but walked at 14 in 17 1/3 innings.
Wilcox is a 21-year-old who was selected in the third round of the University of Georgia 2020 draft. With 6 feet 5 inches, Wilcox has shown great things, but has sometimes had trouble with his control.
Mejia, 25, became San Diego’s top receiver during the 2019 season, when he batted 265 with eight homers in 79 games. An injury to his left thumb limited him to 17 games in 2020. Mejia has been among the most promising young receivers in the game since it was news with a streak of 50 games giving hits in the minor leagues, there are still doubts about its defensive reliability.
Hunt is a 22-year-old who spent 2019 in Class A before the 2020 minor league season was wiped out by the coronavirus. Hitting .255 with five homers in 89 games for the Fort Wayne TinCaps two seasons ago.
The Associated Press contributed to this report.