Former MLB GM ignores every red flag with Yankees-Blake Snell prediction

The New York Yankees, entering 2024, have a full five-man rotation. Gerrit Cole, Carlos Rodón, Nestor Cortes Jr., Marcus Stroman and Clarke Schmidt represent a pretty fearsome fivesome on paper.

But real ball-knowers and skittish fans of the pinstripes know that what appears "on paper" rarely manifests itself in reality. "Sure, Frankie Montas struggled last summer, but he's the No. 5 starter now. Do you know how big an advantage that is?! What can go wrong?" It's enough to make anyone shudder.

There is a great chance the Yankees are eventually forced to dip into their depth pool, and it might be nice if that group featured a bit more experience. Trading Clarke Schmidt and investing in Corbin Burnes/Dylan Cease/free agency was also an option, once upon a time. However, that was then. This is now. Everybody dabbled in the Blake Snell market back in college, sure, but we've grown up now. We have a wife and kids. Get out of our doorway.

Unless...?

Snell is somehow still available, and former MLB GM Jim Bowden just can't quit the idea of the Yankees eventually signing him as he predicted again this week in The Athletic.

Yankees Rumors: New York can *still* sign Blake Snell?

On Jan. 30, Yankees insider Bob Klapisch wrote that Hal Steinbrenner had "moved on" from Snell. It seems, from an outsider's perspective, that he did so rather quickly, signing Stroman on the very same day the team's six-year, $150 million offer to Snell leaked.

Technically, though, with Snell still unsigned, the Yankees could revisit their (heavily taxed) $150 million offer and check in regarding whether last year's Cy Young winner is still set on his next deal starting with the number two. Maybe the Yankees' odds increase if Snell remains unclaimed through April, or if an injury befalls their current rotation.

It would take some wiggling and financial gulping, but upgrading Luke Weaver to Schmidt and Schmidt's rotation spot to Snell could take the Yankees from "competitive" to "great." It would just require a somewhat unprecedented Steinbrenner pivot, which we still can't see happening. Nobody wants to decline an offer from the Yankees only to wind up on the Angels instead, but that's probably Snell's current reality.

Sorry, man. Gerrit Cole and Aaron Judge tried. Should've been more receptive back in early January.

Or, quite possibly, your agency should've listened.