Mets rumors linking them to Blake Snell continue despite the obvious downside

We're in a weird time where New York Mets fans don't want the team to sign the two-time and reigning Cy Young winner, Blake Snell. Have we gotten greedy? No. That's not it. Mets rumors of them pivoting to Snell if they miss out on Yoshinobu Yamamoto have us dissatisfied because of what it means.

Having bought into the idea of needing to sit back and be patient, it's hard to imagine the Mets turning their attention to Snell. Because he rejected the qualifying offer from the San Diego Padres, the Mets will forfeit their second and fifth-highest draft picks next year along with $1 million in international slot bonus money. The repercussions are immense for them because of how much they spent last year over the luxury tax.

Two of the five highest picks plus a kick in the teeth when it comes to the international slot money? It's not you, Mr. Snell. It’s how sharp of a turn it is away from everything else the Mets have been doing.

The continued Mets rumors linking them to Blake Snell don't sit right

When he's not winning a Cy Young, Snell is either hurt or much closer to a mid-rotation arm. He's an impossible to predict ace. Coming off a year where he led the league in walks but did so with the lowest ERA, he's a frustrating star.

The difference between Snell and Yamamoto is less about ability and more centered on what each would mean for the Mets. Snell is older therefore expected to sign for fewer years. Yamamoto can reasonably sign a ten-year contract (probably with opt outs) and it wouldn't be the most outrageous thing to happen in baseball this week.

Jim Bowden recently predicted Snell lands with the Mets in lieu of Yamamoto joining the Dodgers. In almost any other scenario this works, but at the sacrifice of two high draft picks for what Snell has done in his career, it feels like the Mets are trying to do two things at once.

Signing Snell could mean the team actually goes out and spends elsewhere. We need to believe the penny pinching with the bullpen additions is just their way of saving up to fall below the luxury tax. If they're able to accomplish this, next year's punishment for signing a QO rejector isn't as steap.

Snell still won't come cheaply. In terms of whether or not he's a good match for the Mets, you're right to have concerns. You may not care a lick about the draft picks or money. Snell has shown a tendency to be less stud-like than what the Mets will have to pay him.

On a win-now roster, Snell is a worthy addition. On the Mets who've given off different vibes, it comes across differently. His value took off after winning the second Cy Young. Older fans may see these Mets rumors and have flashbacks to Bret Saberhagen. The scary thing is Saberhagen was much more consistent before coming to the Mets than Snell has been.