San Diego Padres: What Blake Snell said about free agency after Cy Young win

Blake Snell made MLB history on Wednesday night by becoming just the seventh pitcher to win a Cy Young Award in both the American and National Leagues. Now Snell is on his path toward writing his own personal history, becoming a free agent for the first time in his illustrious career.

Drafted 52nd overall by the Tampa Bay Rays in 2011, Snell pitched for the Rays (winning his first Cy Young in 2018) before being traded to the Padres before the 2021 campaign. Tampa Bay and San Diego are the only two franchises for which the 30-year-old southpaw has pitched, but will a third team be added to the mix for the 2024 season? Rumors say Snell is on the wish list of several teams, including the Padres, Los Angeles Dodgers and San Francisco Giants.

So what does Blake Snell think about being a free agent?

During the media conference call after Snell's Cy Young win, the left-hander talked about the experience of becoming a free agent for the first time.

"Honestly, I haven't thought about free agency at all, one time. I've just been really focused on this day, winning this award in front of my friends and family," Snell said. "From here forward, I'll be thinking about free agency a lot more because obviously that's what's next.

"I'm excited to be a free agent. At the same time, I was very excited to be a Padre. I was very excited to be a Ray. I'm very curious to what's going to happen in these next couple months or however long it takes. I'm really looking forward to what that process was like and and this is a spot I've never been in so I don't really know what to expect."

Snell is predicted by MLBTradeRumors.com to land a seven-year, $200 million deal this offseason, with MLBTR prognosticating that the Dodgers, Boston Red Sox or Philadelphia Phillies will eventually land the prized pitcher.