MLB: San Diego Padres acquired Blake Snell from Tampa Bay Rays

The San Diego Padres have acquired left-handed pitcher Blake Snell from the Tampa Bay Rays in exchange for right-handers Luis Patiño and Cole Wilcox and catchers Francisco Mejía and Blake Hunt, Executive Vice President/General Manager A.J. Preller announced today.

Snell was originally selected by the Rays with the 52nd overall pick (Comp. B) in the 2011 First-Year Player Draft from Shorewood High School (Wash.).The Seattle, Wash. native enjoyed his best season in 2018 when he captured the AL Cy Young Award after compiling a 21–5 record, 1.89 ERA (38 ER, 180.2 IP) and 221 strikeouts.

Snell led the AL outright in wins and ERA that season and became the first AL pitcher to lead the league in both categories since Ron Guidry in 1978. He went 10–1 with a 1.27 ERA at home, the lowest ERA by an AL pitcher since Nolan Ryan (1.07) in 1972.

Snell, 28, departs the Rays with a career 42-30 (.583) record, a 3.24 ERA (556-IP, 200-ER) and 648 strikeouts in 108 starts over five seasons (2016-20). He ranks among the top five in franchise history in strikeouts (fifth), ERA (second to David Price), opponents’ avg. (.223, first) and winning pct. (third).

In 2020, he went 4-2 with a 3.24 ERA (50-IP, 18-ER) in 11 regular season starts, then went 2-2 with a 3.03 ERA (29.2-IP, 10-ER) over six postseason starts. Facing the Los Angeles Dodgers in the World Series, he became the third left-handed pitcher to record nine strikeouts (or more) twice in a single Fall Classic, joining Sandy Koufax of the Dodgers (three times in 1965) and Hal Newhouser of the Detroit Tigers (twice in 1945).

“This acquisition is in line with our overall strategy to build a consistently winning ballclub for the great city of San Diego” said Padres Owner and Chairman Peter Seidler. “I welcome Blake to the Padres and know he will enjoy playing for our enthusiastic and supportive fans in 2021 and beyond.”