Report: Yankees made offer to Snell, sides remain far apart

The New York Yankees have made a contract offer to reigning NL Cy Young winner Blake Snell, Jon Heyman of the New York Post reports.

A deal isn't imminent, however, as the sides are currently far apart in talks, Heyman added. The terms of the Yankees' proposal to Snell aren't known.

Snell has reportedly expressed an interest in joining the Yankees. He has experience pitching in the AL East from his many years with the rival Tampa Bay Rays.

Later Thursday, the Yankees shifted gears to find pitching and reportedly agreed to a two-year, $37-million contract with right-hander Marcus Stroman. New York apparently didn't feel like it was close to finding common ground with Snell, according to Bob Nightengale of USA Today.

The 31-year-old won his second Cy Young Award this past season after posting an MLB-best 2.25 ERA and 182 ERA+, along with 234 strikeouts and only 15 homers allowed, for the San Diego Padres.

Snell's also reportedly drawn interest from the San Francisco Giants and Los Angeles Angels this offseason. The Philadelphia Phillies have also checked in with his camp, Heyman reports.

The Yankees are trying to boost their pitching staff behind ace Gerrit Cole - last year's AL Cy Young winner - following their blockbuster trade for outfielder Juan Soto in December. After surrendering plenty of pitching depth to acquire Soto, the rotation behind Cole is thin. Left-handers Carlos Rodón and Nestor Cortes Jr. are coming off disappointing seasons; other internal options include Clarke Schmidt and Luke Weaver.

New York is also interested in free-agent starter Jordan Montgomery, as well as trading for Chicago White Sox ace Dylan Cease, according to Heyman. Chicago has reportedly asked the Yankees for top outfield prospect Spencer Jones as part of a Cease trade.