Blake Snell remained with the San Francisco Giants after the July 30 trade deadline passed, as the team’s high asking price and their intention to keep their ace for a potential playoff run thwarted any possibility of a major trade.

Although teams such as the Orioles, Padres, Yankees, Mets, and Cubs were reported to have shown interest in Snell, the New York Post’s Jon Heyman also noted that the Dodgers and Rangers had inquired about his availability.

The level of interest from these clubs is unclear, and Heyman’s use of “check in” suggests they were merely exploring how open the Giants might have been to trading Snell and what it might have taken to acquire him. Snell would have been a significant addition to any rotation, especially for teams like the Dodgers and Rangers that have been struggling with pitching injuries throughout the season.

Given that the Giants and Dodgers have only made two trades with each other since 1968, it seems unlikely that San Francisco seriously considered trading their ace to their major rivals. Even though Giants president of baseball operations Farhan Zaidi previously served as the Dodgers’ GM, it’s probably safe to assume that any discussions between Zaidi and his former colleague, Dodgers president Andrew Friedman, were brief.

Instead, Los Angeles acquired Jack Flaherty as their top pitching acquisition at the deadline and will rely on Flaherty and some returning injured pitchers to strengthen their staff as the season progresses.

For the Rangers, acquiring Snell would have been a game-changer amidst an otherwise quiet trade deadline. They added Andrew Chafin and Carson Kelly through trades with the Tigers, while Michael Lorenzen was sent to the Royals. These modest moves highlighted the Rangers’ uncertainty about making a serious push with a roster that has underperformed for much of the season. After reaching a 51-52 record on July 25, the Rangers have since lost nine of their last 12 games, likely ending their hopes of defending their World Series title.