NO REGRETS
Why whiffing on Blake Snell isn't necessarily a bad thing for Astros
Mar 19, 2024, 4:46 pm
No time to panic. Composite Getty Image.
Despite rumors that the Houston Astros were pursuing him, 2 time Cy Young Award winner Blake Snell signed a 2-year, $62 M contract with the San Francisco Giants.
The contract features an opt-out after the first season. Did the Astros make a mistake by not signing him?
Here are some positives from passing on Snell
Considering the amount of money he would have cost, signing him would have put the Astros over the second tax threshold.
He would have also cost the Astros a draft pick, since the Padres gave him a qualifying offer. The Astros already have to send one draft pick to the Padres for Josh Hader.
Houston needs every pick they can get to replenish their farm system.
If he were to get hurt, the Astros would have his huge salary on the books for 2025. Plus, if he pitches well this year, he could go right back to free agency and sign with another team.
Be sure to watch the video above as ESPN Houston's Paul Gallant & Joe George share their thoughts on why they're not concerned about Blake Snell signing with the Giants.
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Oswald Peraza hit a two-run single in the ninth inning to help the Los Angeles Angels snap a three-game losing skid by beating the Houston Astros 4-1 on Saturday night.
Peraza entered the game as a defensive replacement in the seventh inning and hit a bases-loaded fly ball to deep right field that eluded the outstretched glove of Cam Smith. It was the fourth straight hit off Astros closer Bryan Abreu (3-4), who had not allowed a run in his previous 12 appearances.
The Angels third run of the ninth inning scored when Mike Trout walked with the bases loaded.
Kyle Hendricks allowed one run while scattering seven hits over six innings. He held the Astros to 1 for 8 with runners in scoring position, the one hit coming on Jesús Sánchez’s third-inning infield single that scored Jeremy Peña.
Reid Detmers worked around a leadoff walk to keep the Astros scoreless in the seventh, and José Fermin (3-2) retired the side in order in the eighth before Kenley Jansen worked a scoreless ninth to earn his 24th save.
Houston’s Spencer Arrighetti struck out a season-high eight batters over 6 1/3 innings. The only hit he allowed was Zach Neto’s third-inning solo home run.
Yordan Alvarez had two hits for the Astros, who remained three games ahead of Seattle for first place in the AL West.
Key moment
Peraza’s two-run single to deep right field that broke a 1-1 tie in the ninth.
Key Stat
Opponents were 5 for 44 against Abreu in August before he allowed four straight hits in the ninth.
Up next
Astros RHP Hunter Brown (10-6, 2.37 ERA) faces RHP José Soriano (9-9, 3.85) when the series continues Sunday.