The Giants got a close look at free-agent pitcher Blake Snell on Friday.
San Francisco was among the handful of teams who had scouts on hand to watch Snell pitch a four-inning simulated game in Seattle, MLB.com's Mark Feinsand reported Friday, citing a source.
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Snell threw 60 pitches in Friday's simulated outing, the New York Post's Jon Heyman reported Friday.
The Astros also had scouts present to watch Snell's simulated game on Friday, with Houston having serious interest in pursuing the two-time Cy Young Award winner, The Athletic's Ken Rosenthal and Chandler Rome reported on Friday.
Snell reportedly is seeking a similar deal that fellow Scot Boras clients Cody Bellinger and Matt Chapman received -- a three-year contract with opt-outs after the first two seasons. An interesting nugget considering the Giants were the team who inked Chapman to the deal structure Snell reportedly is seeking.
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Rosenthal's report states Houston's need for a top-flight starter might have amplified after José Urquidy pulled himself from a minor-league game with right-elbow soreness during a 43-pitch outing. Should the Astros' pursuit of Snell intensify, Houston would present the Giants with fierce competition for the veteran southpaw's services.
With Logan Webb entrenched as San Francisco's ace, dynamic young lefty Kyle Harrison currently figures to slot into the No. 2 role in the Giants' starting rotation. However high Harrison's upside might be, it would be difficult for San Francisco to ignore the pedigree of a proven option like Snell.
The 31-year-old is coming off a dominant 2023 campaign where he secured NL Cy Young honors with a league-leading 2.25 ERA and 234 strikeouts in 180 innings of work.
Snell is an eight-year MLB veteran who possesses a wealth of playoff experience as well, which could prove vital to a Giants team attempting to return to the postseason for the first time since 2021.
Where Snell ultimately lands remains to be seen, but the Giants' indicated interest at this stage of spring training is a noteworthy development in the free-agent saga.
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