Why whiffing on Blake Snell isn't necessarily a bad thing for Astros

NO REGRETS

Astros Jim Crane, Jose Altuve, Dana Brown
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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The Angels beat the Astros, 3-0. Composite Getty Image.

José Soriano and two relievers combined for a two-hitter and Oswald Peraza hit his first home run since a trade from the Yankees to lead the Los Angeles Angels to a 3-0 win over the Houston Astros on Sunday.

Soriano (10-9) allowed one hit and struck out eight in seven innings. Luis García allowed one hit in a scoreless eighth and Kenley Jansen threw a perfect ninth for his 25th save.

There were two outs in the fifth when Peraza connected off Hunter Brown (10-7) into the bullpen in right-center field to put the Angels up 1-0. His homer comes after his two-run single in the ninth inning Saturday helped Los Angeles to a 4-1 victory that snapped a three-game skid.

Yoan Moncada walked to start the eighth and scored on Mike Trout’s double that bounced off the wall in center field to make it 2-0. Taylor Ward walked before Luis Rengifo reached and Trout scored on an error by Lance McCullers Jr. when the pitcher overthrew first base.

Yordan Alvarez singled with no outs in the first and Soriano walked a batter in the second and sixth innings. The Astros didn’t get another hit until Ramón Urías doubled with one out in the eighth inning. Los Angeles outfielder Taylor Ward was injured trying to make a catch on that hit when he crashed face-first into the metal scoreboard in left field.

He was carted off the field holding a towel to the right side of his face. He was taken to a hospital by ambulance where interim manager Ray Montgomery said he would receive stitches to close the cut and be evaluated.

Brown allowed three hits and a run with five strikeouts in six innings. McCullers Jr. allowed three hits and two runs in his first relief appearance since 2018.

Key moment

The home run by Peraza.

Key stat

It’s the fifth time the Astros have been shut out this month.

Up next

LHP Yusei Kikuchi (6-9, 3.68 ERA) will start for Los Angeles in the series finale Monday against RHP Luis Garcia, who’ll make his return after sitting out since May 2023 recovering from Tommy John surgery.

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