Less than 48 hours after signing Brandon Lowe to a six-year contract, the Tampa Bay Rays have signed another piece of their young core to a long-term deal. The Rays and reigning American League Cy Young winner Blake Snell have agreed to a five-year, $50-million contract.
Rays Sign Blake Snell To Five-Year Contract
A first-round draft pick by the Rays in 2011, Snell was a top prospect coming up through Tampa Bay’s system. He was named Baseball America’s Minor League Player of the Year in 2015. Snell made his MLB debut the following year, but went through some ups and downs over his first couple of seasons.
However, Snell began to figure things out towards the end of 2017. He carried that over into 2018 in a big way. Snell went 21-5 with a 1.89 ERA, 2.95 FIP and 0.97 WHIP last year, striking out 221 batters over 180.2 innings of work along the way.
He pitched in his first career All-Star Game, and ultimately had his breakout season rewarded with the American League Cy Young.
Contract breakdown
Snell still had four seasons of team control left, so this contract really only gives the Rays one extra year of him. He was not going to be eligible for arbitration until next offseason. That meant the Rays essentially had the right to pay Snell as little money as they wanted to this year.
Earlier they renewed him at a $573,700 salary for this season, which represented a raise of just $15,500 over what he made last year. The Rays had received criticism for not giving Snell a bigger raise coming off of his spectacular 2018, with the 26-year-old left-hander saying himself that he was disappointed. Snell will make now make $1 million this year, plus a $3 million signing bonus. His salary will increase each year, maxing out at $16 million in 2023, the final year of the contract.
The Rays had already named Snell their Opening Day starter for the first time in his career. Chris Archer had received the honor in each of the last four seasons before being traded to the Pittsburgh Pirates last July. Snell will take on the Houston Astros at Tropicana Field on March 28. Justin Verlander, who finished runner up to Snell for the AL Cy Young last year, will get the nod for the Astros.
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