Yankees fans are overlooking major silver lining of Blake Snell signing with Giants

Earlier this week, the San Francisco Giants signed Blake Snell and officially ended the quasi-pursuit from the New York Yankees, who reportedly offered the left-hander a $150 million deal just hours before agreeing to terms with Marcus Stroman. Snell and his agent Scott Boras reportedly declined and the Yankees quickly pivoted.

The next option for Snell was to sign a short-term, high AAV pact with opt out clauses, something the Yankees weren't willing to do because of their payroll situation. Every dollar spent from this point forward will be taxed at a 110% rate for the 2024 season. That means if the Yankees signed Snell to the deal he got from the Giants, it would've cost them $65 million this year (as opposed to the $31 million AAV). It was never going to happen.

Fans that were frustrated Snell ended up landing in San Fran might've missed the larger point, though. It's fine if you were living in fantasy land, thinking Hal Steinbrenner would pay more than double for an asset the Yankees clearly weren't entirely sold on.

But hey, at least Snell didn't end up with the Houston Astros, who entered the sweepstakes late in the game and got the rest of the AL worried! Remember how the Josh Hader negotiations went? The Astros were believed to be interested, then were seriously pursuing, then the deal was done.

It could've easily happened with Snell, too, because of Houston's injury issues with its starting rotation. Thankfully, Jim Crane didn't pull the trigger.

Yankees fans are overlooking major silver lining of Blake Snell signing with Giants

The more top pitchers that end up in the NL, the better. Balanced schedule be damned! All that matters is the postseason, and the easier the path to the World Series, the better.

Also, don't forget, this represents another major Red Sox whiff. Boston has as incomplete a rotation as a team could possibly have, and they opted to stand pat. Sure, a short-term deal for the Sox didn't really make sense when you look at their current situation, but any transaction to make the current roster better while not exceeding the luxury tax threshold felt like the right decision for them.

So the division didn't get better. The AL didn't get better. And the Yankees have reopened talks with Jordan Montgomery? Outside of Anthony Rizzo's injury, things seem to be coming up Bombers!

OK, don't get too excited. Montgomery also isn't happening. But Snell is across the country on a borderline NL Wild Card team, and the Astros have four starters kicking off the season on the injured list.

All things considered, this might've been the best possible outcome for the Yankees. Unless, of course, Snell mows down New York in the Fall Classic, but we'll worry about that if we even get there.