Your Favorite Team Doesn't Want Blake Snell

The Phillies acted quickly. Aaron Nola’s dalliance with free agency was short-lived, and he returned to the only professional organization he’s known. Philadelphia gave him 172 million reasons to stay. It was still a few days before Thanksgiving, and the best available pitcher who was available to pitch had exited the market.

Then it felt like the entire industry, including players and team executives, deferred to Shohei Ohtani as he took his time making an inevitable decision.

Japanese pitching sensation Yoshinobu Yamamoto is controlling the market now. With the Yankees, Mets, Dodgers, and Giants (in addition to other teams) all in the mix, the 25-year-old right-handed starter’s price is climbing. Sometimes I wonder what the Major League roster budgets of those teams look like. Or how many versions exist. I’m willing to bet there were “with Ohtani” and “without Ohtani” worksheets. Yamamoto might be having a similar impact.

In the background, Michael Wacha, Seth Lugo, and Eduardo Rodriguez signed multiyear deals. But teams like the Royals and Diamondbacks weren’t engaging with the very top of the market anyway.

While Yamamoto’s courtship continues (the 45-day window during which he can negotiate with MLB teams closes on January 4), the remaining higher-end free agents take another break.

Jordan Montgomery waits. Blake Snell waits. An October hero and the reigning NL Cy Young Award winner bide their time in the consolation bracket. Pace of play is not a cause for concern in December.