Blake Snell predicts Padres can be ‘shopping for’ regardless of season-long failures

Blake Snell has a prediction for the San Diego Padres’ commerce deadline, and it won’t be what you’d count on.

“I believe we’re shopping for. That’s what I really feel like,” Snell said Thursday, according to The Athletic.

The kicker: Snell mentioned he was basing this off what he and his household are feeling.

“I imply, not from anybody, like, excessive up within the org,” Snell mentioned, answering if he had gotten that inkling from somebody contained in the Padres.

“My household, all of them need us shopping for. I find it irresistible right here, so I ain’t attempting to go anyplace.

“I’d relatively simply keep right here and see what occurs,” the lefty starter, a pending free agent, mentioned about hypothesis that he can be traded. “I’d relatively end this 12 months right here and see what occurs.”

San Diego’s commerce deadline quandary is without doubt one of the extra attention-grabbing questions across the majors as Aug. 1 approaches.

The Padres, who had been imagined to be a Nationwide League West favourite with their star-studded roster, have underperformed expectations all season lengthy.

Regardless of superstars Juan Soto, Fernando Tatís Jr., Xander Bogaerts and Manny Machado, the Padres are 46-51, 10 video games out of the division lead and 6 1/2 video games out of a wild card spot.

The Padres are sitting behind the Dodgers, who maintain the division’s prime spot, in addition to the upstart Diamondbacks and the Giants, who each maintain wild card spots.

Their underperformance has fueled some speculation that the staff might look to deal their 24-year-old star in Soto on the deadline after buying him for a swath of prospects final 12 months.

Snell, 30, has loved a resurgent season wherein he’s grow to be one among MLB’s finest pitchers once more, pitching 103 innings with a 2.71 ERA whereas putting out 12.2 batters per 9 innings.

The lefty seems to be cruising towards his finest season since his 2018 Cy Younger award marketing campaign and can be set to make a hefty sum this offseason.

Since Could 1, Snell has been one of the dominant hurlers within the recreation — he’s posted a 1.91 ERA and compiled 2.1 wins above alternative, in accordance with Fangraphs, throughout that point vary.

Snell’s not the one one pushing the Padres to remain on the offensive.

There have additionally been rumors the star-hunting San Diego squad will be in on the Shohei Ohtani sweepstakes ought to the two-way megastar grow to be obtainable.