In an attempt to address their mounting pitching issues, the Houston Astros are said to be seriously pursuing free agent starting pitcher Blake Snell. Reports suggest that the Astros, along with other teams, are actively involved in the pursuit of the Cy Young Award winner.

The Astros, along with the Texas Rangers, are anticipated to begin the season with several key starting pitchers on the injured list. While Justin Verlander is expected to return in April, Lance McCullers Jr. and Luis Garcia will face extended absences. Complicating matters further, Jose Urquidy recently pulled out from a start due to a sore elbow.

Snell, who won the National League Cy Young Award last year, has garnered attention for his exceptional performances. He recorded a 2.25 ERA in 32 starts despite a slow start to the season. Notably, Snell also won the Cy Young Award in 2018 while playing for the Tampa Bay Rays. However, beyond these standout seasons, his overall performance has been less consistent.

The reports indicate that Snell is seeking a short-term, high average annual value (AAV) deal with opt-outs, similar to recent signings of Cody Bellinger and Matt Chapman. This arrangement would allow Snell to potentially have another Cy Young caliber season, opt out after 2024, and re-enter the market without draft pick compensation.

However, signing Snell would come at a cost for the Astros. Their previous signing of free agent reliever Josh Hader resulted in the loss of their second and fifth round picks. Pursuing Snell would mean sacrificing their third and sixth round picks.

Considering the Astros' pursuit of Snell, it raises speculation about the Texas Rangers' pursuit of Jordan Montgomery. The Rangers' ownership is said to have hindered the franchise from re-signing Montgomery, with future local television revenues remaining uncertain. The Rangers have shown concern about their pitching staff, evident from their pursuit of Dylan Cease, who was ultimately traded to the San Diego Padres.

The Astros currently have the fifth highest payroll for 2024, at $242.4 million, while the Rangers rank eighth with a payroll of $221.9 million. Acquiring Snell would push the Astros' payroll over $270 million. The question arises as to whether or not the Rangers' ownership would be willing to spend significantly less than their rivals while passing on the opportunity to bring back a pivotal player from their 2023 championship campaign.

As the Astros continue their pursuit of Snell, fans eagerly wait to see if this potential addition will alleviate their pitching woes.