The Rangers are trying to work out a way to both sign free agent left-hander Cliff Lee and also acquire Zack Greinke from the Royals, reports Ken Rosenthal of FOXSports.com. This would be the "perfect world" scenario for Texas, but Rosenthal notes that such a scenario is unlikely to happen as the Rangers "face steep odds" in getting even one of the aces.
Texas has been considered the favorite to land Greinke if Kansas City does indeed move him this winter, but a source tells Rosenthal the Rangers' proposals for Greinke have been "not even close" to convincing the Royals. Rosenthal notes that some members of the Rangers organization believe the Royals don't really intend to deal Greinke given the high asking price of at least "two young pitchers with Greinke-like potential in any trade for their ace." While the Rangers are able to expand their payroll this winter, Rosenthal wonders if they would have enough to even afford both Lee's sure-to-be massive contract and the $27MM Greinke is owed through 2012.
The Rangers' main competition for Lee, the Yankees, could afford to have both pitchers in their rotation, but Rosenthal says "the Yankees don't view a Greinke trade as realistic" since they "still have reservations" about Greinke's ability to pitch in New York.
Greinke’s ability to pitch in NY is the same as it is in KC. How hard is it to be realistic and say they are unsure of his ability to deal with the NY crowd and media?I doubt that the Rangers really see much risk (financially) in trading for Greinke assuming that they are able to sign Lee. Greinke is only signed for 2 years and how much risk is there in $13.5M/year compared to signing Cliff Lee to ~$25M/year for 5 years?It’s just a shame they missed out on Oswalt. A rotation of Lee, Wilson, Greinke, Lewis, and Oswalt would just be killer. Well, ya cant win em all… but you can try.
Yes, I understand that Lee @ $25M and Greinke would be $38.5M/year added to their $38M for last years players still with the club, prior to arbitration raises. So we’re at $76.5M before arbitration and not including the signings that have already happened. We’re looking at a payroll close to $110M, but we all knew it was going to balloon after this year anyways.
I could be “misremembering” but didn’t Mussina express reservations about his ability to play in New York before he ended up there?
Yeah, but Mussina wasn’t the head case Zack is, and that’s coming from one of Zack Attack’s biggest fans.
I see Greinke in NY as Jeff Weaver all over again. Granted Weaver wasn’t the pitcher Greinke is, but that may be enough to scare the Yanks off. They’ve been burned by Vazquez now twice as well so I think they’ll stay away.
Mike Mussina didn’t go on the disabled list for social anxiety problems.
“Greinke’s ability to pitch in NY is the same as it is in KC. How hard is it to be realistic and say they are unsure of his ability to deal with the NY crowd and media?”
But that’s exactly what the article said… “He also missed time due to social anxiety and depression in 2006, and like any player joining the Yankees, would need to adjust to the pressure of playing in New York.”
All In!
That would be insane if they got both of them, but I don’t see it happening.
Here’s the dirty little secret-Zach isn’t available. Kansas City’s asking price is high because he’s not on the market. You make them an offer they can’t refuse, then, and only then, is he on the market.
your post makes zero sense.
Edit: Oops, this is a reply to MaineSox
No, you’re right, everyone was shocked Mussina went to NYY because he’d previously expressed a desire to be a “small town guy.” He ended up making a fair share of enemies in the New York media the first year, but some of them came around to like him eventually (other still resentful–Michael Kay). Mussina dealt with the media better after realizing that in a galaxy of stars, there’s plenty of scrutiny to go around such that he was hardly the most questioned player in the clubhouse, plus he didn’t have to single-handedly carry the rotation like in Baltimore. He and Greinke do remind me of each other a bit; they both signed below market extensions then proceeded to watch their teams suck, both quiet homebody types still living in the town they grew up in, and both speak their mind bluntly when questioned, even when it isn’t prudent to do so. If Zack were a free agent and I were NYY, I’d recruit Moose to talk to him, but in a trade situation that would obviously be tampering.
“Rosenthal wonders if they would have enough to even afford both Lee’s sure-to-be massive contract and the $27MM Greinke is owed through 2012.”This nonsense is starting to get annoying.
If they didn’t think they could afford to do it then why would they be trying to do it? I know it’s hard to believe, but Tom Hicks doesn’t own the Rangers anymore and the new ownership group has money and is committed to winning and being a legit major market baseball team.
You can coach baseball. You can coach bunting, and base running, and fielding, and hitting.
You can NOT, however, coach intelligence.
Can you coach Speed? Braves players really need it.
to an extent, yes, but mostly no. there are certain, small things you can tweak to increase your speed, but you’re NEVER going to turn Bengie Molina, for example, into Usain Bolt.
Base running is not equal to speed (ex Scott Pods). While speed is important in base running, it is more about know how to read a situation and determine when to run.
Good for the Rangers. I really hope it happens.
Derek Holland, Engel Beltre, and Jurrickson Profar for Zack Greinke.
I’ve got word that a deal very similar to this was laughed away by the Royals. From what I understand they would also ask for Perez/Scheppers in that package.
Didn’t mean to like that, oops. Anyway…Yeah Greinke is really good, but I don’t think I could do that. I would do something like one of Holland/Perez, another lower tier pitcher (which in our system is still a very good young pitcher) somebody like Erlin/Ross/Font, Beltre, and Profar. As much as I would like Greinke I would hope JD and company would just steer clear of him if the Royals insist on two of Perez/Holland/Scheppers/Feliz.
How about switching Holland with Martin Perez? Perez is further away, but he’s younger and has a higher ceiling. That’s three super young guys that could turn out to be awesome big leaguers. Would you take that if you were the Royals? Because I’d send that over so fast your head would spin. I would still do Holland instead if you twisted my arm, but I’d rather not if it can be avoided.
It would have to be Holland I think.
I would still do it if that’s the case. As much as I don’t want to give up Holland it would be worth it for Greinke.
Derek Holland, Engel Beltre, and Jurrickson Profar for Zack Greinke.
Zack will be traded before Christmas. Once the yankees sign Lee, there isn’t really any other options out there worth pursuing. Then their “untouchable” kids will be dealt.
I see you really just don’t understand. It’s not about who’s untouchable right now. It’s about the Royals asking a ridiculous price for a guy who’s only had one elite year. Until they lower their asking price, no one will trade for him.
To be fair though, if you’re the Royals you have to do that, just from a public relations standpoint.
They’ve done terrible as an organization in trades where they deal off elite players, and if they get hosed on a Greinke deal it’s going to look pretty bad. You almost have to get something ridiculous if you deal him.
Yeah, well J.P. Ricciardi tried to fleece us last like that last year for Halladay, we didn’t bite and he ended up getting fired.
Just because they don’t get two of Perez/Holland/Scheppers/Feliz doesn’t necessarily mean they would be getting fleeced. They could still receive a very fair package without getting two of those guys.
Grienke was pretty elite in 2008 AND 2009…
2008 wasn’t an elite year. If that’s the case, then Colby Lewis and C.J. Wilson had elite years. Elite isn’t the same as very good.
Zack will be traded before Christmas. Once the yankees sign Lee, there isn’t really any other options out there worth pursuing. Then their “untouchable” kids will be dealt.
The yankees need Lee now that the red sox have Adrian. Thank god they won’t get Greinke. He’s honestly not one of the best pitchers in baseball if you take out that 2009 season. When you’re giving up that amount of prospects, for someone who isn’t going to be one of the best pitchers, I don’t see how that’s a fair trade.
I’d settle for a rotation of Lee, Greinke, Wilson, Lewis and the winner of a battle between Kirkman, Holland, Hunter, Ogando and Feliz for the 5th spot. I don’t know though that the Rangers want to give the Royals Scheppers and Perez and even more talent for maybe just 2 seasons of Greinke.
Have any of you actually seen Zack pitch in person? Its downright nasty, his ERA last year was inflated because he became disinterested in the game, considering the Royals Bullpen blew 9 games for him, Its understandable! I’m tired of everyone acting like Zack isn’t a Top 5 pitcher in the game. Put him on a contender, and you’ll get another Cy Young-type season out of him, hes that good.
I can tell you’re a Royals fan. Stop being blinded by homerism. There’s no way in hell Zack is top 5 in the mlb.
Then who is? He has similar peripherals to all of the great pitchers in the game, CC, Doc, Tim, he just plays for a really bad team, thus his numbers are skewed. Lincecum had a rough year, is he suddenly not a top 5? I don’t think so. Same situation with Zack.
Of course our asking price is crazy. We have control over Zack for two more years. He doesn’t have to go anywhere. If the Rangers or Yanks don’t want to cough up 3-4 of their top prospects, then we’ll wait until July 31st. Do you not think there will be teams salivating then?
And to Zack only having one good year… I suppose you didn’t see him in 2008. From 2008-2009 Zack was 29-18 for a team that wasn’t even sniffing .500. And there were times last year where Zack was brilliant. With a good hitting/good defense team like Texas his record would have went from 10-14 to probably 15 wins.
I’ll admit, I wasn’t crazy about it when I heard we were “shopping” him. But add 3 or more top prospects to our already loaded farm system, and the future looks good.
And yes, I saw Zack in person twice, both of ’em were wins. One was against a very talented, playoff bound Rays.
Like I said above, 2008 WASN’T an elite year. Stop getting elite and very good mixed up. You actually using wins to make a point?
Yes I am. He earned everyone of those wins (and quite a few that ended up as losses due to no support). For you to say Zack isn’t isn’t a top 5 pitcher is assinign. Place him in a city that values defense (our sorry Royals GM doesn’t seem to) and the slightest bit of run support (Zack is 3rd behind Cain and Timmy in terms of lowest run support last three years) and you have a perpetual Cy Young candidate.
Everyone wants to talk about the guys supposed mental issues. Fact is, that was right before spring training 2007. We let him throw smoke out of the bullpen that year, and he hasn’t had any trouble since. Yeah, he folded a bit down the stretch. But that was due more to the appauling team behind him than a mental breakdown.