Snell: 'Giants didn't even talk to me' in free agency

Los Angeles Dodgers starting pitcher Blake Snell said his old team made no effort to keep him in free agency.

"The (San Francisco) Giants didn’t even talk to me. It was surprising - I thought they really liked me," he said, according to Susan Slusser of the San Francisco Chronicle.

"I thought they’d come after me right away. I really liked it there. I was happy there. But they never even said anything to me."

Snell opted out of his contract with the Giants at the beginning of the offseason, opting to become a free agent. He later joined the Dodgers on a lucrative five-year, $182-million deal.

He suspected a return to San Francisco was unlikely when he didn't hear back from Giants manager and close friend Bob Melvin.

"I texted Bob and he didn’t reply, and Bob always replies to me, so I kind of had a feeling," Snell said. "But it was weird, especially with all the other teams that were interested in me."

The two-time Cy Young winner worked to a 3.12 ERA and 1.05 WHIP with 145 strikeouts in 20 starts for the Giants in 2024. The 2.43 FIP he posted was his best in a campaign with at least 100 innings pitched.

Snell's career 11.2 K/9 is tops among active pitchers.