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The New York Yankees made one of the biggest moves of the MLB offseason when they swung a trade for San Diego Padres slugger Juan Soto -- but the Bronx Bombers have not signaled that they are satisfied with attracting only one All-Star. Top executive Brian Cashman wants more -- and he could turn to one of Soto's former teammates for additional star power in 2024.
The Yankees have reportedly tabled a contract offer for free agent pitcher Blake Snell, who won the NL Cy Young Award last season. Snell and Soto played together in San Diego for parts of two seasons -- and if the Yankees have their way, the duo will be reunited in New York ahead of Opening Day, and for many more to come.
Is a deal close for Snell?
MLB inside r Jon Heyman on Thursday reported that the Yankees have made an official contract offer to Snell, who began his career with the Tampa Bay Rays -- one of the Yankees' AL East rivals. However, Heyman cautioned that player and club remain "far apart" on a deal, and New York has other pitchers on its wishlist to slot behind staff ace Gerrit Cole -- such as Marcus Stroman, whom the Yankees reportedly agreed to sign Thursday night.
Even still, the prospect of teaming up Cole and Snell -- the reigning AL and NL Cy Young Award winners -- has to be a tempting one for the Yankees, who are hoping to put a disappointing 2023 behind them and return to World Series contention. New York finished 82-80 and missed the postseason for the first time since 2016.
The Yanks' championship drought
The Yankees' urgency to recruit superstars this winter undoubtedly increased following last season's debacle -- and not even g Stroman would necessarily preclude a further push for Snell. New York has not won the World Series since 2009 and has not even reached the Fall Classic since defeating the Philadelphia Phillies in six games that season.
Snell is widely regarded as the best pitcher available since the Los Angeles Dodgers committed more than $1 billion to sign Japanese duo Shohei Ohtani and Yoshinobu Yamamoto. The left-hander finished 2023 with a 14-9 record, an MLB-best 2.25 ERA, and 234 strikeouts -- although he also allowed a league-worst 99 walks along the way.