Left-hander Blake Snell has exercised his right to opt out of his contract with the San Francisco Giants and become a free agent for the second straight season.
The two-time Cy Young Award winner agreed to a two-year, $62 million contract in March that includes a $17 million signing bonus payable on Jan. 15, 2026, a $15 million salary through 2024 and a $30 million salary through 2025, of which $15 million would have been deferred and payable on July 1, 2027.
Snell, 31, was 5-3 with a 3.12 ERA in 20 starts and threw a no-hitter against Cincinnati on Aug. 2 for one of only 16 individual shutouts in the major leagues this season. He struck out 145 batters and walked 44 in 104 innings.
He was sidelined by a left adductor strain between April 19 and May 22 and by a left groin strain between June 2 and July 9.
Snell won the Cy Young Awards in 2018 with Tampa Bay and 2023 with San Diego. He is 76-58 with a 3.19 ERA in nine seasons with the Rays (2016-20), Padres (2021-23) and Giants.
Because Snell turned down a qualifying offer from San Diego last November, San Francisco is ineligible to make him a qualifying offer this season and he will not receive draft pick compensation if he signs with another team.
