The Arizona Diamondbacks, after a disappointing 2018 season, look to be on the verge of breaking up this winter with one of their biggest names, starting pitcher Zack Greinke, reportedly on the block.
USA Today’s Bob Nightengale reported last week that the Diamondbacks “would love” to move Greinke, who just finished the third year of his six-year, $206 million deal.
It’s been an inconsistent three years in Arizona as he’s posted a 3.53 ERA, but Greinke is still 20 games over .500 as a Diamondback with a 45-25 record.
The Diamondbacks though have been unable to attain any real success in the National League West. After turning around a dreadful 69-93 record in 2016 with a 93-69 mark and a trip to the NLDS, the Diamondbacks failed to make the postseason this year with an 82-80 mark.
That’s apparently all that management needed to see as the franchise is now facing a rebuild. Even star first baseman Paul Goldschmidt is expected to be the subject of trade talks this winter.
While Greinke turns 35 on Oct. 21, the Diamondbacks shouldn’t have much trouble dealing him. Though they will likely have to eat some of his contract considering he’s projected to make $34.5 million in 2019 and $25 million in 2020 and 2021. He’s an effective pitcher, but with that kind of money on the table, one would expect to see a Clayton Kershaw-type output from the mound. It’s worth noting though that Greinke signed this deal with the Diamondbacks following a 2015 Cy Young Award-winning campaign with the Los Angeles Dodgers in which he went 19-3 with a 1.66 ERA.
Could the Yankees be interested in Zack Greinke?
As it goes in Major League Baseball, any big name on the free-agent market or the trading block will immediately be connected to the New York Yankees. It’s no secret that they are in desperate need of starting pitching, too.
Luis Severino’s implosion during the second half of the season is making everyone second guess whether or not he can truly be the ace of the Yankees rotation. Behind him, Masahiro Tanaka was inconsistent while CC Sabathia and Sonny Gray likely won’t be playing their baseball in the Bronx in 2019. Gray is expected to be traded while Sabathia will not be re-signed.
Veteran southpaw J.A. Happ will be a free agent after going 7-0 with a 2.69 ERA in 11 starts with the Yankees after being acquired from the Toronto Blue Jays and Jordan Montgomery will be back after missing most of the 2018 season due to Tommy John surgery.
It’s been quite some time since Greinke was an American League pitcher. He spent the first seven years of his career with the Kansas City Royals, winning a Cy Young in 2009. That was the lone highlight from his time in KC as he was 60-67 with an ERA of 3.82.
He returned to the AL after being dealt from the Milwaukee Brewers to the Los Angeles Angels at the 2012 trade deadline where he went 6-2 with a 3.53 ERA for the Halos.
With 15 MLB seasons under his belt, Greinke’s best days are behind him, but a veteran presence with big-game experience could do wonders for the Yankees if they could acquire Greinke at the right price. The Diamondbacks will be looking for prospects to spark their rebuild, meaning names like Justus Sheffield, Chance Adams or Clint Frazier could come up.
