Could recent trade(s) lead to the Mariners signing Blake Snell?

The Mariners just sent Robbie Ray to the San Francisco Giants in exchange for former Mariner outfielder Mitch Haniger and RHP Anthony DeSclafani. The move frees up more cash for the Mariners, as they are also expected to get cash back from the Giants in this deal. It sounds like they also have a deal in the works with Tampa Bay.

Robbie Ray was expected to return to the Mariners in the middle of next season after undergoing Tommy John Surgery in 2023. Now that he is gone the Mariners could look to the free agent market for pitchers such as Blake Snell and Jordan Montgomery. They also could make another deal via trade for pitchers such as RHP Dylan Cease or LHP Jesus Luzardo.

Signing Blake Snell makes a ton of sense given they would not need to trade high-level prospects which be necessary to acquire either Cease or Luzardo. Snell has also expressed interest in playing in Seattle and would immediately be a hometown favorite. The Mariners also are in desperate need of adding left-handed pitching with Robbie Ray and Marco Gonzales now gone.

By moving Robbie Ray, the Mariners could have just soften the market for Blake Snell, as the Giants appeared to be one of the major contenders to land him this off-season. The Yankees have also been in on Snell, as he recently expressed interest in playing for New York. With the cash the M's have on hand now, they should be able to make a competitive offer for Snell.

Blake Snell made several visits to Seattle already this off-season, showing up at the Apple Cup and a Seahawks game in late November. When Mike Tirico said on Thursday Night Football that Blake Snell had expressed interest in playing for his hometown Mariners speculation about Snell to Seattle became eminent. After today's big move, the Mariners should do everything they can to bring the 2023 NL Cy Young winner to Seattle.