Lavishing Zack Greinke with a six-year, $206.5 million contract hasn’t turned the Arizona Diamondbacks into contenders. But if they ever want to get out from under that contract, they’ll reportedly be able to find a suitor within their own division.
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Dodgers Want Greinke Reunion
Thursday, Sept. 1
Ken Rosenthal of Fox Sports reported the Los Angeles Dodgers contacted the Diamondbacks regarding a trade for their former ace prior to Wednesday’s waiver trade deadline. Per Rosenthal, the talks were not substantive, and it’s unclear if Arizona has any intention of moving Greinke.
The 32-year-old righty played for the Dodgers from 2013 to 2015. He posted an ERA under 3.00 in each season, including a 1.66 rate during his historic 2015 campaign.
The Diamondbacks poached him away last December, but the first year hasn’t worked out. (He has a 4.17 ERA and 1.24 WHIP through his first 22 starts.) Arizona is 56-77 and could be looking at organizational upheaval.
Bob Nightengale of USA Today reported ownership is considering replacing chief baseball officer Tony La Russa; general manager Dave Stewart; and De Jon Watson, the team’s senior vice president of baseball operations, after two seasons. Arizona brought in La Russa to spearhead an organizational shuffling, seemingly giving him a blank check and an edict to make the team competitive.
The club showed promise with a 79-83 campaign a year ago, but 2016 has been a mess. Greinke is on pace for his lowest wins above replacement since 2007, per FanGraphs, and has seen all his peripherals pale in comparison to his stint in L.A.
The Dodgers have been tighter with their spending than they were when their current ownership group first came aboard, but they’re tied for 26th in quality starts. Their willingness to kick the tires on Greinke is understandable, even with his monstrous contract.
It would also protect the organization if injured starter Clayton Kershaw attempted to join the free-agent market after the 2018 season, as his current deal has an opt-out clause.
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