The market for free-agent ace Zack Greinke is “quietly heating up,” tweets ESPN’s Jerry Crasnick. Both the Dodgers and Giants are looking for some clarity in regards to their pursuit of the right-hander, according to Crasnick, who hears that the Excel Sports client is seeking $30MM annually.
As Crasnick notes, that annual target is a challenge for teams interested in Greinke not only due to its own enormity but also due to the fact that Greinke is older than the typical free-agent starter, set to embark on his age-32 campaign in 2016. Most recent multi-year deals of the magnitude Greinke is expected to command conclude in the pitcher’s age-36 season (at least in terms of guaranteed money), but that would cap Greinke at five years. Considering the historically excellent season he just delivered in 2015, however, it’s easy to envision Greinke’s camp seeking six or more years on a free-agent deal.
After all, Greinke’s 1.66 ERA was the lowest single-season mark by a qualified starting pitcher in the past two decades. He logged 222 2/3 innings in the regular season, averaging 8.1 K/9 against 1.6 BB/9 and went on to toss 13 2/3 very solid innings in the playoffs as well. Greinke has been nothing short of brilliant in his three years with the Dodgers, compiling a 2.30 ERA with 8.3 K/9 against 1.9 BB/9 in 602 2/3 regular-season innings, plus a strikingly similar 2.27 ERA in 35 2/3 postseason innings.
Greinke’s age and the fact that he rejected a qualifying offer are both knocks against him when compared to his primary competitors — David Price and Johnny Cueto — but Greinke is also coming off the best season of the three. Beyond that, the general consensus among scouts seems to be that Greinke will age better than many of his elite peers, somewhat lessening the sting of committing a contract of significant length. In addition to the Dodgers and Giants, Greinke has also been linked to the Red Sox and Cubs, though other large-market, high-payroll teams figure to have privately expressed some interest as well.
if the dodgers don’t keep greinke i’m gonna be cranky
your downvotes only make me stronger
The Dodgers need the Mad Hungarian, to come out retirement
“Greinke’s camp”… lol, he doesn’t have a camp. Greinke is his own dude. I don’t even this he had an agent in 2013 when he signed with LAD.
That’s what I like about Greinke he does his own thing
He did hire Casey Close of Excel Sports Management to negotiate that deal, and Excel has represented Greinke since that time. He’s undoubtedly marches to the beat of his own drum — more so than almost anyone in baseball — but Greinke also has one of the most high-profile agents in the industry and has a team of people working on his current contract negotiations.
Can you explain how he does things his own way? I dont know much about him.
He’s way more involved in the construction and negotiation of his contracts than the average MLB player
Yeah, I checked and Close was in fact his agent in 2013, but I believe Greinke constructed his own contract with Ned.
During the negotiations he met with the Dodgers without his agent present. The Dodgers management came away very impressed. One of the stated reasons for signing him then was they way he took charge of himself.
Get him Cards lol a guy can hope right? 🙂
The Cards aren’t getting no one except maybe the Mad Hungarian coming out of retirement. CUBS! ALL THE WAY! At least in Central…LMAO
If 5/$150M is the starting line & the Dodgers re-sign him, the perfect scenario for LAD is for Urias, De Leon to be (at least) a #3 SP in Greinke’s last two years
Wow, what a starting line. I wonder who is going to end up ponying up the money, though I could see the Dodgers obviously trying to keep him. If not, I envision him staying in the NL somewhere.
He won’t sign to the Dodgers for that.He wants 6 years @ 30 a year = 180 Mil which is what I predicted yesterday and who ever signs him that will be the deal 6 years 180 watch!
I have a feeling the appeal of joining Bochy and Posey is going land him in SF
I have a feeling the appeal of money will land him with the highest bidder
He doesn’t want to leave the NL so that’s not necessarily true.
I got a feeling if no one wants to pay a 32 year old pitcher 30 Million over 6 years he will be joining the Mad Hungarian LMAO….
Greinke and Kershaw have the same agent. Dude knew what he was doing when he added the opt out in Greinke’s contract.
Dodgers should sign Jeff Soukup.
I would love to have him in San Francisco but Giants never seem to go full out to get players. 5 yrs 150 doesn’t seem like an offer F.O. would make.
6year with an opt out after 4
Make it a club option and I’d go with that
I don’t know if LA would Opt him again after what he did this time. Straight 6 years 180 Million done deal to whoever that stupid. LMAO
He will be going back to the Angels. Dipoto isn’t there to screw it up this time.
I think he’s tried his luck in LA and is ready to move on to a team that can close the deal. The Dave Roberts hire is certainly the nail in the coffin.
Grienke will re-sign with the dodgers. They will offer him the most money which is the most important thing to him. The also have the ability to build the strongest team around him. They have the money to sign anyone and young talent to trade for anyone in the league.
The Giants don’t typically pony up the kind of money it will take to sign Grienke, and I agree, I see him staying in the NL. In the end, I think he will re-sign with the Dodgers, as they are the most inclined and able to roll out the $$.
would be shocked if it’s the cubs getting greinke
Won’t be the Cubs, they have no interest in him believe it or not. The Cubs are going to go one of two ways..Either go all in on Price and hope he has more connection with Maddon than Boston’s money like Lester did, or go after 2 2nd tier pitchers(Samz, Lackey or and Mead) then go after Zob, or and Gordon. Maybe do some trading – That is their thing. Cuteo & Grez are not in the Cubs plans even if they don’t get Price. unless both Plan A and B fall through and even then.
To add I would be willing to bet anything anything that Cuteo and Grez sign first. As a matter of fact I’m willing to bet in the next 48 to 72 hours Cuteo is signed, don’t ask me how I know that info, but bank on it. 144 Million 6 years
I wonder if the Astros have had any discussions with Greinke’s agent? Surely Luhnow at least inquired.
The Giants should sign Greinkie because the Giants have more World Series Rings than the Dodgers plus the Giants have a good roster and they have the best pitcher Madison Bumgardner and he would go great with the Giants ,Bruce Bochy has experience with Greinkie obviously the Giants should sign Greinkie.Even year
By that theory Greinke should sign with the Yankees lol
If I’m the Giants I put 6/170 on the table right now, take it or leave it.
That might get it done, but I still think it be 6 at 180
He going to shock the world and sign with Arizona and LA and SF are going to be like WTF just happened. LMAO…You heard it hear first. Trust me. LOL