What The Heck Is Happening With Unsigned MLB Free Agents Blake Snell And Cody Bellinger?

Blake Snell and Cody Bellinger both had exceptional 2023 seasons. Snell is the older of the two, having just turned 31 in December, while Bellinger is just 28, young by free agency standards. Both added over four wins in value to their teams in 2023 and have a history of winning the top award at their position. 

Yet with pitchers and catchers reporting for some teams and the rest just a few days away, Snell and Bellinger remain free agents. So what in the world is going on?

There's a few possible answers, none of which bode well for the future of talented but flawed Major League Baseball players moving forward. 

It starts with the one thing Snell and Bellinger have in common: their agent. Both are clients of the Boras Corporation, which has long been known for holding out for every possible dollar, even if it takes longer to sign. One client, Michael Conforto, pushed it so far that he wound up needing to sit out an entire season without a team. It's unlikely either Snell or Bellinger are forced to that extreme, but Scott Boras is well known for waiting out the market, hoping to get bigger offers for his clients.

The problem is, he's also known for ignoring or downplaying some of their most obvious flaws.

Sep 17, 2023; Phoenix, Arizona, USA; Chicago Cubs outfielder Cody Bellinger (24) reacts at first base in the second inning against the Arizona Diamondbacks at Chase Field. Mandatory Credit: Allan Henry-USA TODAY Sports

Teams Clearly Have Questions About Cody Bellinger And Blake Snell

The disconnect in free agency between MLB teams, players and perhaps even agents continues to grow, due in large part to different perspectives. Teams have recognized that free agency shouldn't focus on paying for past performance, but future projections. Sure, Snell and Bellinger had exceptional 2023 seasons, but there are reasons to be skeptical about the near and long term prognosis for both.

Snell has frequently battled control issues throughout his career, leading to inconsistency and season-to-season variance. And despite his relative youth, the aging curve for pitchers into their mid-late 30's is not good, to say the least. Bellinger has shown an ability to play at an MVP level, winning the 2019 award while with the Dodgers. But his batted ball quality has never recovered the lofty heights of that season, leading teams to question his ability to sustain his 2023 stats moving forward.

Large contract demands + major questions about consistency and future projection = lengthy signing delays. Which is exactly what we're seeing now.

The middle class of free agency, pitchers like Jordan Montgomery and hitters like J.D. Martinez have struggled to find teams or long-term deals, even after good seasons. Big market teams like the Dodgers or Yankees want to take big swings on players like Shohei Ohtani or Gerrit Cole. And the smaller market teams generally don't have interest in spending money, even though they clearly have it on hand.

READ: Kansas City Royals Show That Small Market MLB Teams Have Money To Spend

While Snell and Bellinger have the big names and past successes that should put them at the top of the market, their future projections may actually make them a better fit for the middle of the free agency class. And despite exceptional 2023 seasons, it may force them to take a shorter term deal or less money than they were hoping for. 

The regular season is just seven weeks away; time to find a fit for both players is already running short.