Houston Astros Could Emerge as Suitor For Reigning Cy Young Winner

After already adding Josh Hader this offseason, could the Houston Astros also add reigning Cy Young winner Blake Snell?

According to Chandler Rome of 'The Athletic,' Astros' ownership has an affinity for Snell and could be willing to re-engage in his market.

Facing mounting questions about their depth, the Astros have remained engaged in the starting pitching market, multiple people with knowledge of the team’s plans told The Athletic this week. Given Crane’s already stated affinity for Snell, it stands to reason he may emerge as the club’s top target.

“As I’ve said multiple times, we always have our foot on the gas when it comes to winning and acquiring pitching,” general manager Dana Brown said on Thursday night. “As long as Snell is on the market, we check in to ask what is the latest. Nothing new as of now.”

As of now, the Astros are slated to have Justin Verlander open the year on the injured list and Luis Garcia is scheduled to miss most or all of the year with Tommy John surgery. Lance McCullers remains out because of injury and the team is left with guys like Jose Urquidy and JP France as rotation options at this point.

The Astros won the World Series in 2022 and have been to three straight ALCS's, so they are firmly in their window of contention, and adding Snell would do a lot to keep that window open.

Snell is coming off a year in which he went 14-9 with a 2.25 ERA for the San Diego Padres. He won his second Cy Young Award, having also won the AL Cy Young award in 2018 as a member of the Tampa Bay Rays.