The Tampa Bay Rays are finalizing a deal to trade ace left-hander Blake Snell to the Padres, per multiple reports late Sunday.
In the deal, first reported by The Athletic and ESPN, the defending American League champion Rays would get top pitching prospect Luis Patino, catcher Francisco Mejia, pitcher Cole Wilcox and minor-league catcher Blake Hunt.
Snell, 28, won the 2018 American League Cy Young Award and was 4-2 with a 3.24 ERA in 2020. According to the Tampa Bay Times’ Marc Topkin, the Rays have been open to trading him to create some financial flexibility because he is due to make $10.