Angels GM Jerry Dipoto said he hasn’t spoken to Zack Greinke’s agent about a possible extension and doesn’t plan to initiate talks in the near future, Mike DiGiovanna of the LA Times reports. Dipoto, who traded three of his organization’s top prospects to acquire Greinke last week, said there’s no need to rush contract talks.
"It's something we'd like to explore at some point," Dipoto said, "but we'll cross that bridge when we get there."
Dipoto said he wants the Angels and Greinke to become acquainted with one another before beginning talks. Casey Close of Excel Sports Management represents Greinke, who’s on track to hit free agency after the 2012 season. Greinke appears to have turned down an extension offer exceeding $100MM before the Brewers traded him to Anaheim. The Angels will do everything they can to sign the right-hander long-term, ESPN’s Tim Kurkjian reported three days ago.
I hope he moves after the season. I can’t imagine him in an angels uniform. even after I saw him in one. Nothing against the angels, it just looks weird to me.
The angels aren’t stupid they will wait and see how Greinke does in a big market before they sign him
Greinke is not stupid – he’ll wait until he hits free agency before he accepts an offer from the Angels.
Does Greinke really strike you as someone who wants to extract every penny in a future contract?
I’d also suggest that the teams with the deepest pockets tend to play in large markets. Does Greinke really want to go to New York, Boston, Philly or Chicago? Even if he can earn a few million more over 6 years I doubt that those teams are high on his list. Greinke has thrived in KC and Milwaukee. I’d expect him to target similar areas where there just isn’t a ton of pressure from the community. While LA is a huge market, the fanbase is decidedly different than places like NY.
I can see as reasonable options (have a need, have money, and the right environment) …
— LA (Dodgers or Angels)
— San Fran
— Atlanta
— Milwaukee
— DC
— Tigers
— Seattle
My favorites would the Angels, then Detroit, then Milwaukee.
I would’ve said “no” at the beginning of the season, but if he truly was offered Cain money by the Brewers and turned it down, I think he will most definitely take the best offer on the table. The “big market” thing has been blown way out of proportion. A person being treated properly for anxiety can handle the same things any “normal” person can, and I believe Zack has the talent to flourish in any environment.
I’m guessing there were other factors to the Milwaukee deal … fact is we don’t even know how much money was involved. I’d also suggest that the team is going in the wrong direction. If he wanted to play for a contender there are better options out there.
Sure, anxiety can managed. Remember though, this isn’t just butterflies. It was significant enough that he missed time. That just doesn’t happen often. Does a big market team want to take a $130m+ gamble that Greinke’s nerves won’t get the better of him? Do the Yankees want Jeff Weaver v2?
I think there will be options for Greinke where he can still get paid and play in a less stressful situation. Who knows though, maybe I’m wrong.
I know about anxiety, first-hand. I know what a colossal difference proper treatment makes. Will he ever love dealing with the media, overzealous fans, etc? No. Can he go out and do his job? Yes.
Zack also never made a disparaging comment about the Brewers organization, and in fact, said he’d rather not be traded. They simply cannot afford to pay him what the open market can and will pay him. I don’t think one injury riddled season means the Brewers are heading in the wrong direction, and I doubt that was his thinking either.
The Greinke hoopla amazes me. He allowed 15 runs (12 earned) last year in 3 postseason starts and that was in the NL where the pitcher bats. Yet numbers get thrown around as if he’s Bob Gibson in his prime. As a Brewer fan, I’m glad he turned down the offer that was on the table. I’m not saying he’s a bad pitcher, but he’s not worth $100+ million contract.
Uses a 3 game sample size to characterize a statistically consistent top 5 MLB pitcher and former CY Young Award winner. Wonders why he has more down votes than up votes.
Verlander, Halladay, Sabathia, Weaver, and Price are five better pitchers. There are others, but these are five.
He’s not a top five pitcher.
How can you forget to list Kershaw though?
I’d put Kershaw in front of everyone but Verlander at the moment.
Weaver has been better than both.
But IS he better than both? I’m saying no.
Sorry but Weaver isn’t better than Kershaw and Verlander.
I concur.
I was just throwing names out there. I’d say the top 5 in order would be Verlander, Kershaw, Hernandez, Halladay, Weaver.
Since 2009 Greinke has the 5th highest WAR of all pitchers in baseball. He’s tied with Felix despite pitching 120 less innings.
I’m not saying that he is a top 5 pitcher … only that some metrics would certainly support that conclusion. In any event, the larger point was to refute daveineg’s analysis that Greinke sucks because he had a few rough outings in the postseason.
He may have been in the past, but he is in no way a top 5 pitcher.
You mean right now. This very minute? How about this – in 2012 his rankings are:
WAR – 2nd
FIP – 1st
xFIP – 2nd
K/9 – 11th
The only person above him in WAR is Verlander who is aided by an extra 30 innings. On an inning by inning basis Greinke has been better than anyone else in baseball.
The metrics where he does not appear as a ML leader:
ERA – 27th
W – 30th (tie)
I think you would have a hard time using anything beyond W and ERA to argue that Greinke is not a top 5 pitcher this year.
The Angels REALLY need to resign Greinke. Somewhere in the 6/$100-$120m range would be fair. I would then let Santana walk and see what kind of discount Haren would take.
If Hamels gets 6/140 from home team, Greinke should get more. I call it 7/150.
I have a hard time buying that Greinke will become the highest paid pitcher in baseball history.
Man, he would look mighty fine in a Brewers uniform, wouldn’t he?? I think so!
Boy these baseball players have it made in the shade. Should be like the NFL where you get a signing bonus then you produce or good bye. Even the Roy Halladay deal looks too rich now. OK they win a world series and that makes every thing better for ever and ever.