San Francisco Giants Make History by Signing Blake Snell

The San Francisco Giants made history on Monday by signing reigning NL Cy Young winner Blake Snell. San Francisco has had arguably the best offseason outside of the Los Angeles Dodgers while making history not once but twice.

San Francisco Makes History With Two Cy Young Winners In Their Rotation

Earlier this week, the San Francisco Giants became the sixth team in MLB history to acquire two former Cy Young winners in one offseason.

San Francisco began their historic offseason in January by trading for former Cy Young winner Robbie Ray. Ray, 32, won his first Cy Young award as a member of the Toronto Blue Jays in 2021. In his Cy Young season, Ray led the league in multiple categories, including ERA (2.85), innings pitched (193.1), and WHIP (1.045). He also led the entire major league in strikeouts with 248 punchouts in 2021. After winning his first career Cy Young award, Ray signed a five-year, $115 million deal with the Mariners.

In his first season in Seattle, Robbie Ray made 32 starts pitching to a 3.71 ERA over 189 innings. Ray’s lone start last season lasted just 3.1 innings before he was removed from the game with an elbow injury. He underwent Tommy John surgery last May and is expected to return sometime after the All-Star break.

On Monday, the Giants signed reigning NL Cy Young winner Blake Snell to a two-year, $62 million deal. Snell, 31, led the entire major league in ERA (2.25) in 32 starts for the Padres and won his second career Cy Young award. Snell won his first Cy Young award as a member of the Tampa Bay Rays in 2018. He led the league in ERA (1.89) while leading the entire major league in wins (21). Snell is the seventh player in MLB history to win a Cy Young award in both leagues.

With Ray and Snell, the San Francisco Giants became the sixth team in MLB history to acquire two former Cy Young winners in the same offseason, joining:

Atlanta Braves, 2017: Colon, Dickey

New York Mets, 2003: Cone, Glavine

Boston Red Sox, 1998: Eckersley, Martínez 

Atlanta Braves, 1993: Bedrosian, Maddux

New York Mets, 1981: Jones, Marshall

Giants Make More History By Reuniting Blake Snell And Bob Melvin

In October, the Giants hired Bob Melvin as their new manager, making him the 39th manager in franchise history. Melvin, a former Giants player, has spent the past two seasons managing the San Diego Padres, San Francisco’s divisional rivals. Now, not only is Melvin reuniting with his former team, but he’s reuniting with Blake Snell, his former Padres ace.

Snell will be the 17th pitcher in MLB history to start a game for the same manager in consecutive years with a different team in the divisional era (1969) and the sixth pitcher to do so since 1999. This will be Melvin’s second time making the list after first making the list with Sean Manaea two years ago. The pair will be joining:

Sean Manaea/Bob Melvin: 2021 OAK, 2022 SD

Drew Smyly/Gabe Kapler: 2019 PHI, 2020 SF 

Mark Buehrle/Ozzie Guillen: 2011 CHW, 2012 MIA

Carl Pavano/Jeff Torborg: 2001 MON, 2002 FLA

Hideo Nomo/Phil Garner: 1999 MIL, 2000 DET

Opening Day for the Giants is March 28th, when they travel to San Diego for a four-game series against the Padres. Logan Webb, who finished second behind Snell in Cy Young voting last year, will start the series opener. Snell is throwing the bullpen with his new team and could pitch later in the four-game series.