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Rays fans try to never get too comfortable with players. It can be hard to pick a franchise face as a result, especially when the likes of Evan Longoria and Chris Archer are traded away to bolster the team’s youthful core.
But fans worried that Cy Young finalist Blake Snell might be on the market this offseason can breathe a little easier for now. Jon Morosi had a chance to ask Rays general manager Erik Neander what he thought of Snell’s trade value, and the GM was incredibly candid in his reply.
Snell’s trade value? “Non-existent.”
.@jonmorosi caught up with @RaysBaseball GM Erik Neander and asked him about the potential trade value of Blake Snell, who is coming off perhaps the best pitching season in franchise history. Neander had a pretty succinct answer. #RaysUp pic.twitter.com/5HqqGnAxHf
— FOX Sports Florida (@FOXSportsFL) November 7, 2018
It’s hard to imagine this is Neander’s way of playing hard to get with other clubs, considering the usual line ahead of meetings is that teams are “willing to listen” on offers.
That Neander is stating outright that the Rays are willing to pile their eggs in the Snell basket is a very good sign for Snell’s tenure, and for Rays fans hoping to see some familiar faces stick around for the long haul.