Blake Snell officially became a member of the San Diego Padres on Tuesday in a trade that netted the Tampa Bay Rays four prospects for the left-hander, who says he anticipates pitching deeper into games.
The 28-year-old Snell’s final outing for the Rays occurred in Game 6 of the World Series when he dominated the Los Angeles Dodgers for 5 1/3 innings, allowing just two hits and striking out nine. But manager Kevin Cash removed Snell after he finished two trips through the Dodgers’ order.
Snell, naturally, is dreaming of facing batters three or four times in a game.
“My thought on being able to push it and challenge myself and go a third time through the order, I’m very excited about it,” Snell said during a video conference call with reporters. “I believe in myself a lot. I believe I put the work in to face the lineup three or four times.
“I know they are going to trust me and let me go.”
The 2018 American League Cy Young Award winner has never pitched a complete game in 108 starts over this five-year career with the Rays. He envisions that changing as well. He says it takes him about five starts to get his arm in peak shape.
“Then hopefully I can go 8 and 9 (innings) and really challenge myself and see how good I really am,” Snell said.
Tampa Bay acquired highly regarded right-handed pitching prospect Luis Patino, big league catcher Francisco Mejia and prospects Blake Hunt (catcher) and right-hander Cole Wilcox in the deal.
Snell said he didn’t expect to get traded this offseason — “I thought I was going to be with the Rays for another year or two,” he said — but the move does allow him to put the World Series experience behind.
Cash’s decision to remove Snell in the sixth inning opened the door for the Dodgers to score two runs off of relievers and win the game 3-1 to claim the championship.
Snell said he has put the controversy behind him but ends up having to think about it because the subject comes up often.
“I think I only think about it as much as I do because of how many people bring it up to me,” Snell said. “It’s always the topic of conversation. …
“I know how Kevin Cash manages, I respect him and I’ve always trusted him. He knows how to win. We got to the World Series because we won. I have my moments to where I would put it to where I am out there trying to help the team win. He’s doing the same thing so you have to understand that.”
Snell, who is entering the third season of a five-year, $50-million deal, is 42-30 with a 3.24 ERA in his career. In 2018, he went 21-5 with a 1.89 ERA and 221 strikeouts in 31 starts when he won the Cy Young Award.
He said he figures to be on a World Series contender in San Diego, as the club reportedly is on the verge of announcing a deal in which it will land right-hander Yu Darvish from the Chicago Cubs.
Snell sees the talent on the team and says he can’t help but get excited for the season.
“This team is lights out, so it is time for us to put the work in and make this happen because we have the team to do it,” Snell said. “They are going all-out. They want to win. They know what they have, they know the talent that is here, and they know what they need and are going out and getting it.”
