Astros GM doesn't expect to sign Snell: 'We're ready to go'
Houston Astros general manager Dana Brown would love to have Blake Snell on his club, but he doesn't envision the franchise signing the free-agent left-hander or anyone else ahead of the 2024 campaign.
"We might add something later (around the trade deadline), but right now, I think our team's built to win, and we're ready to go," Brown said Saturday, according to The Athletic's Chandler Rome.
"I don't envision, like, going out and signing Snell. But would I love to have him? Yeah."
The Astros have a number of starting pitchers who will or might not be ready for Opening Day, which prompted speculation about them possibly adding Snell. He remains without a home despite winning his second career Cy Young in 2023.
Astros injured starting pitchers
| PITCHER | INJURY |
|---|---|
| J.P. France | Shoulder inflammation |
| Luis Garcia | Tommy John surgery |
| Lance McCullers Jr. | Elbow surgery |
| Justin Verlander | Shoulder soreness |
Brown believes the Astros will be fine entering the regular season, so long as Framber Valdez and Cristian Javier pitch the way he expects them to.
"If they give us quality starts, we'll hit, we can catch the ball, and we can close games out," Brown explained. "We need quality starts. There's no mistaking about that.
"Quality starts are the key. I won't panic until they consistently have bad starts."
The Astros won the AL West and appeared in their seventh straight ALCS last season despite their starters combining to rank eighth in ERA and ninth in FIP among AL clubs.