The Brewers are prepared to trade right-hander Zack Greinke if they're unable to sign him to a contract extension before the trade deadline, reports Ken Rosenthal of FOX Sports. The team is said to be "very realistic" about their position with the former AL Cy Young Award winner.
"I haven't sat down with ownership," said GM Doug Melvin. "I haven't talked to any club yet to say, 'Give names.' I haven’t had that conversation … We've got to make a decision on what we're doing overall. We’re hoping we can put a good week together. If we don't, we've got to be prepared to go both ways. A lot more clubs are starting to call now. Clubs are calling on different players."
The two sides were discussing a long-term contract extension earlier this year, but talks were suspended in April. The 28-year-old Greinke has pitched to a 2.81 ERA with 9.3 K/9 and 2.0 BB/9 in 96 innings across 15 starts this season. He'll become a free agent after the season and Matt Cain's five-year, $112.5MM deal with the Giants is a likely comparison during extension talks.
Note to Self:
1. DFA Darnell McDonald
2. Call Brewers about Greinke
3. See what Heidi Watney is up to.
I really don’t think the sox have a good shot this year, Their rotation was too thin, and I don’t think it is worthwhile trading for greinke unless they can get him to sign an extension.
They have hit the injury bug big time: bailey, beckett, buch, crawford, ells, lackey, even now podsednik. Other teams in the east have hit the bug, toronto hasn’t been sinking due to it, the yankees have been able to remain solid because of their depth.
Well Toronto is hurting on pitching, the Rays have had their fair share of injuries and the Orioles are playing above their head and will probably regress some.
Now, with all of the issues you spoke about with the Red Sox, they should have all of those players back within a month and have the potential to be a dominant club, especially if they were to get greinke. And, I do think they have pieces to pull off a trade. Not saying they will, but buchohlz, lavarnway, bard, iglesias. I think a combination of those would def. get it done.
Milwaukee doesn’t need a catcher, and they have pitching on the way. Iglesias would be an improvement over what they have, obviously, but I bet they’re looking more for prospects, and less for former prospects that are in a holding pattern.
Admittedly, Im not familiar with the Brews farm, however I have a hard time seeing them turn down Bucholz, Bard and Iglesias for him, which would be a massive overpay!
This is true, it would be a massive overpay and I doubt very seriously the Brewers would turn it down. Buchholz has pitched better as of late and if Bard returned to form they could easily then go and flip K-Rod for further prospects. Iglesias would probably be a pretty similar replacement to Escobar actually and I could see Milwaukee seeing him as a replacement. I could also see Milwaukee being willing to look at Lars Anderson since their 1B situation isn’t exactly settled.
Agreed!
they should flip krod for further prospects anyway if they’re trading greinke.
closers on noncontenders are frivolous.
Buchholz being on the DL and has been awfully inconsistent this year, and Bard still being in AAA because he was so pathetic as a starter does not sound like a good package to me. (Given, Bard as a reliever, if he returned to form, would be nice) Iglesias is a good start as the Brewers need a SS, but they don’t need guys nearing the same age as Greinke and not nearly as good as him. Speaking as a Brewer fan, I would just as soon take comp picks over Buchholz and Bard.
And… Agreed!
Buchholz is signed through 2017! Also he has looked a lot better as of late. Bard is going back to the bullpen and would also have multiple years of control. I just cant see a better package that that. I would want young controllable major league talent over propects, bc propects are just that.
They can be controllable all they want, but until they’ve proved that they can be consistently good, I don’t view them as being worth a Greinke trade. Just my opinion, not really arguing that you’re wrong, just saying I wouldn’t take the trade.
What prospects have proved to be “consistently good”?
Buchholz is due $25M and has a lengthy injury history, Bard has yet to put it together… and they’re both 27. When you make deals like this, you’d prefer guys with more… growing room? Again, I think they’ll be looking for guys that would currently classify as prospects.
You make it sound like the 25m is bad. IT is spead over the next 4.5 yrs! If he reaches his potential he could be a great 2-3 for the brewers for multiple years
That’s actually over the next three and a half years, and who knows how much of that he’ll be healthy for? Again, I feel that when you’re trading away an ace, you’d rather have cheap, high-upside, cost certainty as opposed to being on the hook for $25M to an injury prone pitcher, who yes, has been great… but not lately.
I was counting one of the option years.
I agree Greinke is an ace, and I have voiced my opinion to trade for him all season.
With that said, I see no scenario where the brewers get back enought talent, and thats by looking at clff lee trade (both times), halladay trade, and new contract rules.
I do think they can get a couple of minor leagues with high upside and 1 or 2 major league ready players.
I don’t think they’ll receive a haul, but believe they will get a Top 50 guy, or a couple of lower-rated Top 100 guys. Otherwise, there’s no point. Prospects are currency, and it’s relatively likely they draft a couple of guys who become prospect currency with the compensation picks they get for not trading him.
Bucholz is a has been. Bard is merely a bulpen arm. Iglesias is the only prospect. It will take prospects.
2 games out of the wild card, and tied with the Blue Jays who apparently aren’t sinking, but the Red Sox have no shot?
No way the red sox will trade for him. the red sox should be sellers this deadline.
no they shouldn’t.
holders, sure, but not sellers.
I see no reason why they cant buy and sell
She works as a courtside reporter in LA now
He will be this years version of Ubaldo Jimenez. If he is put on the block, he instantly becomes the mos coveted starter for any team who has hopes of contention / long term playoff success. Should be interesting to see how this one plays out. In my opinion, Grienke is very underrated for the type of workhorse pitcher he is.
Accept, Greinke has a track record of success where as Jimenez pitched this well once. And, Greinke is better pitcher, he also has that going for him.
No doubt about it. Greinke is in a class much higher than Jimenez. I was just trying to make the connection because he too will instantly become the best pitcher on the open market if made available. People question him because of anxiety issues and whether or not he can pitch in a pressure packed, big market environment but I see that the talent is there and would be willing to put something together for him. Still only 28 years old and should have some very above average years left in that arm.
Jimenez had two years and three months left of control with a very affordable and team friendly (lot of club options) contract when the Indians traded for him. The reason he was so valuable was because he was someone you could pencil into your rotation for years to come. He was someone who could help the Indians in the playoff hunt that year and in future years.
Greinke has three months of control left. He isn’t cheap and will probably be on another team next year even if you do trade for him. Unless you think you can win this year, there’s no reason you trade for him.
The best comparison to him is probably Cliff Lee when he was traded to the Rangers for Smoak and other pieces.
Greinke to Boston for Brent Lillibridge.
no.
Why? must Zack Stewert
I like it because people thought you were serious
Nationals.
One thing I know is the Brewers aren’t getting a top 50 prospect with the new CBA
even though there’s going to be 5-10 teams in on him? Carlos Beltran ring a bell?
With the new CBA you don’t draft compensation for rentals…it changes the dynamics
if Carlos Beltran can yield Zach Wheeler at the time of the trade last year (in which SF knew they weren’t going to receive comp picks) ZG can net even more than that. ESPECIALLY since ANY team could use an ace pitcher. I could see them netting a top 10 prospect (Machado or Profar straight up, or maybe the Crew can throw in K-Rod and eat the salary for either of them) OR getting two solid prospects like Castellanos and another top 100 from the Blue Jays.
Why would the Blue Jays trade for Greinke they aren’t going to contend in the East this year?
You never know, and I was giving examples.
I would think they’d consider it if he would sign an extension immediately a la A Gonz with the Red sox
unless you’re saying brian sabean will trade for zack greinke, that comparison doesn’t hold. the entire league knew how awful that trade was as soon as it was made
i love greinke, but machado or profar for a few months of him (and no compensation picks) is a dream
New CBA ringing a bell?
You can’t claim to know how these types of transactions will work yet, because we don’t have any examples of a lesser return under the new CBA. Milwaukee won’t move him for nothing when they can keep him and get the compensation picks themselves. It’s silly to think otherwise.
what was my claim?
Unless you were sarcastically referencing the CBA as a stumbling block to Milwaukee getting a decent return on Greinke, it would appear as though you were claiming they wouldn’t.
actually I was, since the clause with beltran stated he the collecting team could not be afforded draft picks.
lol, whatever dude.
IT WAS A JOKE! I WS KIDDING BC EVERYONE WAS GIVING THE OP A HARD TIME
He even brought up Carlos beltran which is the reason I brought up the new CBA since it is the along the same lines….dude
but demand will be higher because more clubs are in contention and fewer teams will be selling thanks to the second wildcard, which drives the price up.
the new CBA argument really only holds water when talking about getting prospects for mediocre players and middle relievers. the elite guys won’t be affected because every contender wants greinke anchoring their rotation.
Beltran netted a top 50 prospect without SF getting any comp for him. That was the comparison i was trying to make..
from brian sabean, who was instantly laughed at (again)
a more appropriate comparison is the lee-to-texas trade in 2010. texas gave up smoak, a 1B, who was a preseason top 20 prospect but whose stock had fallen slightly during the year. and that was with texas knowing they’d get compensation for lee if he wasn’t extended
the suggestion that profar or machado — vastly superior prospects to smoak — could be gotten is entirely off-base
Then whatever team looking to upgrade their pitching is more than likely to miss out if they follow your recommendation. You may not see the crazy 4 prospect (of varying levels) for 1 starter type trade that you’ve seen in the past, but you’ll probably see one top tier prospect with one (maybe two) mid-level types mixed in.
I’d take that bet. I’m sure they’ll get one, and a mix of other “talent.” They won’t move him unless they’re getting something better than some compensation picks – it works both ways.
Braves.
Wherever Greinke goes, it shouldn’t be larger than a mid-market team, because the dude will crumble under the spotlights of the Yankees, Red Sox, Giants, Dodgers, etc.
Facts are awesome!
Perception can be reality
I don’t think of San Francisco as a huge Pressure market
Big difference between NY and Boston and San Fran
SF is a big market. Big, big media market. Loyal fan base. One of the biggest rivalries in sports with a huge market team. Don’t forget that they have a ROY, two cy young winners, a world series championship, and a perfect game all in the past 4 seasons so there are definitely a lot of eyes on the Giants.
that being said. go dodgers.
It is debatable how big a market it really is I mean the population of San Francisco is in the 500k range…
I still don’t think there is the same kind of pressure when your fanbase is Silicon Valley types and hippies versus the fanatical type fanbase in NYC and Boston
not sure why i am defending SF, but the city is 800K w/ 4.5 million in the urban area. For context, Boston is 600K w/ 4.0 million in the urban area.
Why will he crumble? He’s excelled at pitching in front of large crowds in Miller Park (tough pitchers park), for a team that has contended during his tenure there.
There is absolutely no evidence to suggest that he will a) have more pressure in any of the traditional “major” markets or b) struggle with game or media related “pressure”.
It does and it doesn’t. If you feel trading for Greinke gives you greater odds of post-season success you will give up what you need to in order to ensure that. Otherwise just bring up that top 50 prospect.
You may also see a sign and trade (or trade and sign) type of deal becoming popular with the new CBA.
If White Sox stay close, they will attempt to trade Thornton or Floyd to pick him Greinke. All teams seem to want Thornton, and Jones and Reed are the late pen future the White Sox are betting on anyway. So down the stretch in that scenario they will have Greinke, Peavy, Sale, Floyd, and then Danks, Quintana, or Humber. Floyd will be dangled too. He’s just okay, but he’s a credible rotation filler that stays healthy, and all teams need a guy like that. If he goes than Thornton stays and he and Crain stabilize the pen nicely with Jones and Reed, and then down the stretch they would still have a rotation of Greinke, Peavy, Sale, and then a bit of a gamble on two of the 3 of Danks, Quintana, and Humber to fill the last two spots. Who knows if Danks comes back in two weeks or at all. Humber will come back healthy, but he’s a crapshoot at best even at full strength. Quintana has been on fire, but sometimes that rookie magic runs dry. They may try to move Thornton first, depending on how the back end of the rotation looks as the deadline nears closer.
However, next year is Peavy’s option year, and Danks has a big contract they can’t move. So if they do get Greinke, it will be as a quick rental, or Peavy is likely gone. Keeping both beyond 2012 seems too expensive. But the White Sox do know if they stick around this year, they’re in a position to pick up a top rental that would turn them into a legit contender, and Ken Williams can’t resist at least making that effort. And Reinsdorf is getting up in years, so he won’t stop Williams from spending despite the talk around town, he will blow the bank if he thinks the timing is ripe.
Of course the Sox are also close enough to crash and burn before the deadline, and then this all turns upside down. Peavy, Thornton, and Floyd are probably all moved, but with the White Sox taking leverage as sellers, instead of giving leverage as buyers. It will all play out soon enough.
You hit the nail on the head…Reinsdorf has always been fickle about spending money
Konerko not being healthy is killing this team right now…
72 hour window to discuss a extension. If he agrees start with Mitchell and either Castro or Molina, add Thornton(they need bullpen help) and 2 more prospects.
Oh Braves please…….
Joey Terdoslovach, Mike Minor, and Edward Salcedo for Zach Greinke. Maybe add Pastornicky instead of Salcedo
Even with the Brewer’s massive organizational hole at SS, I’m not sure Pastornicky is the answer.
Nick Amhed is very good, but farther away than Tyler, I’m fine either way, if it isn’t Simmons, do it
If the Braves are willing to part with that Andrelton Simmons fella, I’d bet the Brewers would be very intent on listening. I’d bet we’d even listen if it were Pastornicky. We just need a good, young SS. That has to be the centerpiece of any Greinke deal, in my opinion.
Simmons for half a year of Greinke, no way, but Pastornicky + 2 prospects not named Teheran, Delgado, and Vizcaino.
Simmons would obviously be the first thing the Brewers would ask for, but if Pastornicky is the best the Braves would be willing to do, the Brewers would probably ask for more in addition than they would have with Simmons. Pastornicky + Terdoslavich + Gilmartin/Salcedo I could see, but Pastornicky wouldn’t really be the centerpiece of that deal, just the closest to playing right away for Milwaukee.
Ok, I’m okay with that, it makes sense
Honestly what would it take from the tigers to get greinke?
Prince Fielder dunk tank day in the Miller Park parking lot. He has to sit up there until every fan in attendance has received the chance to throw a ball.
Not possible, the springs holding the seat up would break as soon as hit sit on it. Also, he would not fit, the man is huge
I get you’re going for a joke, but ask Brewer’s fans about Prince and most are going to tell you they’re happy for him, and in no way bitter.
I’m not bitter either, but you also don’t congratulate the guy who goes after every last dime. Obviously, it’s his right to do so, but greed is a major (if not THE major) component to why our economy is in the tank. I know the balance between what owners rake in has to be offset by player salaries, but I’d be happier paying less to go to a game, AND have the players make less money.
castellanos + turner for grienke + krod + cash?
The Tigers aren’t giving up Turner and Catellanos. No Way. I could see them parting with Castellanos and maybe another lower level prospect but they wont give up both. I doubt that they give up Turner because he will replace Grienke in the rotation next season assuming they dont resign Grienke.
i was thinking along those lines
Having read the proposed fan trades here gave me a smile. Only way I see the Brewers moving Greinke is if it puts bodies into the system. They sold the farm system away the past few seasons and Greinke is the type of player they can use to replenish it. They won’t seek MLB talent in trade unless it is filler the main objective would have to be the farm.
Whitesox please offer any 5 players not on the 25 man roster.
Pastornicky would hardly be considered a center-piece… more of a utility player of the future.. you’d have to give up more than that.. even for a rental player with this new CBA
Well, my comment about a SS being the centerpiece was really more referring to Simmons, or any really good prospect SS out there. Pastornicky in place of Simmons would definitely require more.
Jays could offer Anthony Gose and Adeiny Hechavarria, they’re blocked by Rasmus and Escobar. Then try and extend Greinke by going over Beeston’s ridiculious 5 year max policy.
I’d take Machado from the Os. Any chance?
/Brewer fan
No chance, stop dreaming. Machado is and Bundy are as untouchable as it gets in the eyes of the O’s.
Robb, that’s why I said it what the Sox will try and offer, and not what the Crew would accept.
But to your point about the Crew taking any current MLB player, for the most part I agree, but they would take either Reed or Jones. They both are still hot prospects, and both are still cheap. But I can’t see either one will offered or packaged with filler, and the Sox don’t have anyone in the wings that the Crew wants. So what I said above is the best the Sox will do, but if they are in position to at least try, they will.
However, no offense, but the Crew have enough stupid history to make a stupid trade not seem all that shocking. So I’ll agree with you as far as saying it’s unlikely the Crew botches this, but I won’t say it’s impossible. And if extension talks fall through, then what may appear to some as a bad trade may really be pre-emptive damage control, so there’s that too.
Where is this “stupid history”? Not really the case in Doug Melvin’s tenure, I can assure you of that.
Brewer fans have to be sick of losing great players.
Greinke to the Rangers for Profar Jurickson and a prospect.
Can’t see the Rangers doing that…maybe if he agrees to an extension.
The best thing they could do is trade him before Hamels becomes available if he does that is.
they have andrus in the way though…
Not really, he’s signed through 2014, then is a FA. Profar is only 19…they can still bring him up in 2015 as a 22 year old and save their money..
I’d been wondering about Baltimore as well. They haven’t been in the hunt in years, pitching is their weak spot, and it is small market. SF makes no sense to me because they need hitting, not pitching.
I don’t think anyone in Boston or NY should start thinking Greinke in free agency. He strikes me as the type to take less to play in a good environment that would be less stressful. Don’t discard his anxiety issues earlier in his career.
I’m a Sox fan & honestly I don’t want him to come here at the deadline or in the offseason because I don’t want the Sox to dump their farm for him & if he comes in the offseason, there’s a possibility that he’d be another John Lackey, i’d rather they spend their money elsewhere
Package Boesch, Porcello and Smyly for Greinke (if you get a 72hr window to negotiate a contract). Pipe dream I know but I can dream. Bring up Turner to fill in the 5th spot and turn the season around =) Then we can have an outfield of Dirks, Berry and Jackson. Go from one of the worst defensive outfields in the league to one of the better groups. Then DY can stick in the DH spot until VMart comes back.