ARIZONA — Free agent pitcher Zack Greinke has reportedly agreed to a colossal 6-year, 206 million dollar deal with the Arizona Diamondbacks. The deal will pay him in excess of 34 million dollars per year, usurping the David Price deal from last week as the richest pitching contract in MLB history.
Greinke was remarkably good last year, missing out on the NL Cy Young only because of the historic second half by Jake Arrieta of the Cubs. His 19 wins, 200 strikeouts, 0.84 WHIP and 1.66 ERA in 2015, combined with his relative youth, ensured that there would be quite a lucrative market for his services this off-season. The Diamondbacks obliged, shelling out the cash for the 32 year old right-hander. Unlike the aforementioned Price deal, Greinke has no opt-out clause, meaning that although Arizona paid handsomely for their free agent prize, they won’t have to pony up in three years should Greinke (somehow) outpitch his current contract.
image via mlb.com
It was a somewhat surprising move as the two favored suitors for Greinke’s services were supposedly his former club the Los Angeles Dodgers and the San Francisco Giants, both NL West foes of the Diamondbacks. While boasting MVP candidate Paul Goldschmidt at first base and rising star A.J. Pollock in centerfield, Arizona has been a middling team as of late, with the Dodgers and Giants dominating the division for the last half decade or so. The Diamondbacks were rejected by former Reds and Royals ace Johnny Cueto earlier this week.
It may have been a blessing in disguise, however, because in signing Greinke Arizona both weakens their competition and instantly lends credibility to their 2016 playoff aspirations. While Greinke alone might not be enough to put the Diamondbacks over the hump, it points them in the right direction and signals to remaining free agents that the Diamondbacks are serious about winning (and willing to pay, as well).
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