MLB.com is keeping track of the latest news and rumors surrounding Blake Snell.

Nov. 6: How many teams are in on Snell?
Following his fantastic second half of the 2024 season, Blake Snell is expected to draw interest from many big-market clubs. MLB.com's Mark Feinsand has listed the Giants, Yankees, Mets, Red Sox, Dodgers, Orioles and Blue Jays among the left-hander's potential suitors. An industry source also told Katie Woo and Will Sammon of The Athletic (subscription required) that the Rangers could be in the mix as well. However, that source added that the extent of interest from Toronto and Texas depends on Snell's price tag.

Snell opted out of his two-year, $62 million deal with the Giants last week. Although Snell carried a 9.51 ERA through his first six starts with San Francisco and went on the injured list twice within the season's first three months, he was one of the most dominant starters in the Majors over the final three months. That period included 114 strikeouts over 80 1/3 innings and a .382 opponents' OPS. Of course, Snell is just one year removed from winning the NL Cy Young Award with the Padres, the second of his career.

Feinsand wrote that Snell's next contract should exceed $27 million in annual average value -- the AAV of Carlos Rodón's six-year deal with the Yankees that he signed prior to the 2023 season. However, Snell's deal might come with fewer guaranteed years since he is entering his age-32 campaign. Rodón was 30 when he joined the Yanks.

Nov. 1: Snell becomes free agent after opting out of contract
As expected, Snell is a free agent for the second straight offseason. The left-hander exercised the opt-out clause in his two-year, $62 million deal with the Giants on Friday, putting him back on the open market. Last season started off poorly for Snell, who didn't sign with the Giants until mid-March and recorded a 9.51 ERA through his first six starts and made two trips to the injured list.

But over the final three months of the season, he looked like the pitcher who won the 2023 National League Cy Young Award with San Diego. Snell pitched to a 1.23 ERA over his last 80 2/3 innings, limited hitters to .382 OPS and racked up 114 strikeouts.

According to MLB.com's Mark Feinsand, Snell is a top-three free agent in this year's class. The Giants, Padres and Rangers are among the potential fits for Snell, who will turn 32 on Dec. 4. He is hoping to sign earlier this time and believes he has shown enough to avoid languishing on the open market for another offseason.

“I think that was more on teams,” Snell said in late September. “That wasn’t on me. I also think what I was able to accomplish this year will make teams be more aggressive earlier, so I’ll be looking forward to that. We’ll see.”