For all the ongoing talk about Robinson Cano, Edwin Diaz and the Indians’ trio of starters, Zack Greinke remains one of the more intriguing trade candidates on the market. Zach Buchanan of The Athletic takes an intriguing look at the dilemma the D-backs face in a potential Greinke trade in his latest column, while also revealing the 15 teams on Greinke’s no-trade list.
Per Buchanan, Greinke can block deals to the Yankees, Red Sox, Blue Jays, Orioles, Twins, Tigers, Angels, Athletics, Phillies, Cardinals, Reds, Giants, Rockies, Dodgers and Padres. Obviously, that list includes several clubs who could make sense a viable trade partner for the D-backs, although Fancred’s Jon Heyman writes in his latest weekly notes column that neither the Red Sox nor the Yankees view Greinke as a fit for their clubs. Still, Greinke has already been connected to the Cardinals and it’s certainly possible to imagine interest from a few other organizations that appear on the list. MLB.com’s Jon Morosi tweets that the Reds have checked in on Greinke, though John Gambadoro of Arizona Sports 98.7 pulls no punches in rejecting that rumor (Twitter link).
Greinke, 35, has three years and $104.5MM remaining on his contract between his guaranteed salaries and a trio of $3MM payouts on an $18MM signing bonus that was spread out over the life of his six-year, $206.5MM deal. However, Buchanan reports within his column that the signing bonus payouts will remain the D-backs’ responsibility even in the event of a trade. Greinke’s contract does come with a $2MM assignment bonus in the event of a trade, which seemingly falls on the acquiring club, meaning that any team interest in trading for him would be taking on a total of $97.5MM over three seasons (minus any cash the D-backs include to grease the wheels on a swap).
That’s still a major sum for a new team to pay, given Greinke’s age, but the former Cy Young winner has been excellent for Arizona across the past two seasons. The veteran righty crossed the 200-inning threshold in both 2017 and 2018 while posting near-identical 3.20 and 3.21 ERAs. He’s maintained his elite control, still misses bats at an above-average rate and still possesses average or better ground-ball tendencies, as well.
Fascinating case study. Will a team trade for him, pick up the entire tab, AND surrender prospects? I think not… he’d probably get less right now if he were a free agent. Maybe if D’backs pay him down to $25mm, they can get a few B prospects? And if they pay him down to $20mm, they get a single A prospect? Food for thought.
Watch the Braves pick him up with either Peralta or Souza included. Are they interested in our pitching depth. Btw as a braves fan to all diamondback fans we are sorry about Shelby Miller. That trade looked good at the time for both sides.
That trade never looked good lol..
Oh? Seems like the Dbacks evaluated their prospects pretty well in that trade. Aaron Blair, top 25 at the tine, turns out to be a bust. Dansby Swanson, top 10 at the time, might be heading there. Miller hsd some solid years with the cards and a good year with the Braves. what I want to know is what happened to his mechanics after he got traded, they were all out of whack
I would actually love the Braves to pull off getting Peralta and Greinke, but the odds of that are incredibly slim…Basically slim to none..
Arizona will already be losing Pollack, so I highly doubt they’re going to just trade away another high-caliber, solid production OF’er in Peralta…
Besides, from everything AA has said about his outlined goals for the upcoming and future seasons, even at a reduced 25mil a year, that’s not a contract he wants any part of moving forward.
Then again, this was also the man who said he’s perfectly comfortable with the Braves infield situation, aND then signed Donaldson a few days later…lol
Even still, in his latest interview AA just stated that his remaining priorities are a TOR starting pitcher, an OF’er, and anot her arm for the pen. Lower down the priority list would also be another versatile bench player to pair with Culberson and one of Flowers/McCann to add some flexibility to their roster.
The 25 mil that’s already tied to Mac and Donaldson took a pretty sizeable chunk out of their remaining budget left for this off-season. Reports are somewhat mixed saying they could have anywhere from 15mil to 35mil left to work with. However, they’ve also stated that they’d like to keep some money available, for any in-season additions they might need, so you can subtract whatever that may be..
They could very well still acquire a younger, fairly cost-controlled starter, sign one of Brantley or Cutch, and then go after a guy like Britton or Allen, and call it a day..
Although, also, for what it is worth, I’m not so sure they’ll really need a TOR arm, with Touki, Soroka, and Fried all looking plenty capable of holding down the fort providing the Braves with quality to above average starts..Not to mention Wilson, Gohara, Allard, and Wright will also be available and raring to go!! If the Braves can add another quality bat in their OF, and add a bat to their bench, then they should have more than enough offense, for the young rookies to come in and pitch well enough to get the Braves some W’s..
Regardless though, it’s truly crunch time for AA, and the Braves!! It’s an extremely important time for this franchise, and with a stocked pipeline of big name prospects like the aforementioned pitchers, Pache, Riley, Contreras, Anderson, Wentz, Muller, Waters, and Jenista thus team is primed and ready to make the right moves, stake their claim, and remain atop the NL East for several years to come!! Although, it’s going to be one heck of a fight if the Gnats, Phillies, and even the suddenly rejuvenated Mets have anything to say about it!!
Yeah, no. That trade never looked good for Arizona.
Which reminds me. Someone mentioned me on twitter saying that the Haniger/Segura trade was not bad for Arizona. I didn’t know how to respond to that.
That trade looked absolutely terrible for the Diamondbacks at the time and obviously still does.
As a braves fan I am not sorry. Shelby is a solid pitcher. It didnt work out. It happens sometimes. Bring him back to Atlanta.
Bwahahahahahahahahaha!
Joshua, sensible initial analysis. Appreciated.
If Cano can get traded, being owed $120M and testing positive for PEDs last year ANYONE can get traded? 😉
Most Recent reports have Mariners paying 20M out 120
Yeah but Diaz is obviously the main piece of that trade. If it was Cano alone the Mariners wouldnt be getting the deal theyre gonna get
In fairness, he tested positive for a masking agent, not PEDs.
Also, if he tests positive, that money goes swsy, real quick
Are you trying to say his contract would be void if he tested positive?
Unless people like a nice smooth glass of masking agent and a cigar after a meal, there isn’t really a meaningful difference between testing positive for PEDs or testing positive for being too clever by half trying to avoid testing positive for PEDs.
Players aren’t paid during a suspension for PEDs, so his next positive test would forfeit one years’ salary and a third positive test would, indeed, void his contract.
And Cano tested positive for a diuretic that is on baseball’s banned list. Generally those are used to clear the system of PEDs, although, of course, diuretics are also used to cleanse the system of illegal drugs (although baseball doesn’t suspend for marijuana, they do for some other recreational drugs). In other sports, mostly boxing and UFC, diuretics are used often to make weight after bulking up before a fight.
The point is, nobody is really sure why Cano was taking a diuretic, only that he took something that was on baseball’s banned substance list.
Many diuretics are in diet pills…Cano could have used them like greenies. The other substances act as an amphetamine. Theres very common over the counter supplements that would get a player busted. When the FDA bans a substance…the slick chemists start making slight chemical alterations so that in technical terms these pills dont contain the same substance.
Except actually testing positive….
I mean technically he did not pop positive for PEDs
Yeah but those reports are also suggesting the Mariners will be taking on almost $40 mil in bad contracts so it is closer to the eating almost $60 mil total. Still a huge win for the Mariners assuming these reports are correct.
If Zona will take Dexter Fowler back in any swap with the Cards, I’ll applaud that deal hands down..
Trade him to the White Sox.
Please? So that Braves fans can stop pining for 35 a year old pitcher being paid way to much?
He is being paid quite adequately for a top 10 pitcher in the league.
He is 35. His contract doesn’t end until he is almost 38. Would you want his salary and age on your team?
If the Braves can get another player attached to him and the Dbacks to pay down some of his salary? Then yeah there is a possibility he would look good in Atl…Giving up prospects and taking on his whole contract is a different story!
Yep, that would get me to attend a game next season.
Yes, trade him to the White Sox.
He could help the “young guns” like James Shields did.
Jerry has lots of money.
When Manny and Bryce sign with the Sox, they will contend in 2019!
Cubs need Greinke
No they don’t
They kinda do. Not winning another world series with the talent level on the current roster.
The Cubs don’t need more age in their rotation
More outs in their rotation maybe.
How much money can they throw at risky starters. They’re already laden with bad front office decisions, including two recent signings.
I’d assume we’d give them Chatwood & Kintzler as well as 4-5 minor leaguers
Laden?
Exaggerate much?
Wrigley, I don’t exaggerate. The GM in Chicago has made many awful deals now, in two cities. (And that’s despite having won the WS for both said cities.)
They already have 6 options for starting pitcher and are right up against the luxury tax threshold… And it was the offense that failed them last season, not the pitching
So in what universe do the Cubs need a 30 million dollar a year pitcher?
Everyone who posts on here you should know that whatever media device you are using has been rigged to explode if the key words “Grienke” and “Braves/Atlanta/Anthopulous/Alex/AA” are mentioned in the same sentence. =}
Cubs need Greinke..
We can give up Erling Moreno, Oscar De La Cruz, Jen-Ho Tseng, Javier Assad & Yasiel Balaguert
FOR
Greinke & Alex Young
They already have two too many starters
Yeah but aren’t good enough & as Theo has said many times “we can never have enough starting pitching”
I honestly dunno that the cubs can afford him. They had to trade Smyly just to pick up Hamels option. And Arizona doesn’t wanna take a lot of salary back.
They are not trying to win anymore. They need the money to build those restaurants and hotels. They are hoping Cub fans keep coming and overpaying for tickets because its Wrigley
They can afford anyone. They may not elect to pursue some. Big difference.
1. No they don’t
2. Won’t get it done
Because every team gives away one of their best trade assets for a spare parts…
This deal makes no sense for either side. Cubs don’t need greinke and the Dbacks want someone useful in return
With the McCann & Donaldson acquisitions I don’t think the Braves have the financial flexibility to add Greinke. I am interested in seeing the front line starter AA is looking at getting. I been saying since the season finished I hope the Braves got him but it’s looking less and less likely.
Still need a late inning RP & another OF bat to go along with AA’s frontline SP. Going to be an interesting winter meetings.
I agree with you
I know there was a lot of talk about bringing in a starter and maybe they still do but at the same time it’s never been a certainty they will
It’s a luxury but not a necessity. The team can choose to roll the dice on its young arms and it’s not inconceivable that will work out just fine
Riskier than bringing in a proven ace? For sure
But again the potential is there in the young arms so that’s why a starter is more of a luxury than a true necessity
Brewers
I second that thought.
Grienke for Ray straight-up. If DBacks decline, then Greinke for Hiura.
Brewers can’t let their window of opportunity slip away; who knows who else’ll be good in the NL Central in a couple more years…
No to Hiura. But yes the crew could use a couple inning eating starters to preserve the bullpen for later in the season/postseason.
Throw in 30 Mill and send him to Hotlanta!!!
You still won’t want him. If they throw in THAT much cash then they will ask for a similar value in prospects instead.
The braves have about 5 to 6 prospects they have to move in order to clear our log jam of players. Why not trade 1 or 2 good prospects to them for grienke and either Peralta or Souza it makes more sense for us also. AA will get 2 birds with one stone. FOR arm with postseason experience and a outfielder with power.
I don’t see the Cardinal doing unless AZ picks up a good chunk of the contract
I think with a trade, I see them try to place Greinke in the Goldschmidt trade for salary relief.
I agree but it’s been reported they don’t want to package them together, they want prospects for Goldy. Grienke/Peralta makes since too. Might be able to send Fowler to AZ if he’d take it.
What I can say from watching him up close is that the guy flat out knows how to pitch, and he fields his position very well. A joy to watch!
I would think that he has value, as long as the D’Backs pay the deferred money.
Then he’s only $21 each year, plus the $2M assignment
Exactly. And that’s how it will probably go down. At 21M, Zack’s a pretty good pitcher, and would garner at least one top shelf prospect, along with some other pieces. And the deal’s over in 3 years, unlike the FA guys who are looking for 4 years at a minimum.
I can see a lot of teams trying to make it work.
Dbacks take back Teheran & they can get Allard with him if they eat that much money
The Cardinals are linked to Greinke, but only because Fowler would be included in the deal. I dont think theres anyway the Cards are interested unless Fowlers contract is included. Then you have to deal with each player’s NTC, which could probably be an issue.
Greinke and Goldy for Fowler, weaver, and 1 prospect.
It would take more than that. Kelly could be a part, and as I hate to say it so could Hudson.
Yeah I think Greinke to the Cards makes so much sense if they can put Fowler in the deal. I don’t know how many prospects I would give ARI, but I would maybe add like a top 25 prospect from our system. I wouldn’t overpay for him though, because I think Greinke may have 2 more good years left in him, but I feel like that 3rd year of his contract could be interesting.
Sure seems like a great gamble here considering his age.
That’s more than 20 mil per year for a pitcher in his 36 / 37 / 38 years
even if Arizona put’s in some money to offset it.
The only guy I can think of who was still great in those seasons was Randy Johnson.
and Warren Spahn lol
Big sexy
Big roidy
Schilling was a pretty good 2003 acquisition at 37 years old for the Red Sox.
Yankees have had Mussina, Kuroda, and now Sabathia be very effective in their late 30s
Effective but not elite right?
Do you really want to pay 20 mil to an “effective” pitcher?
You can pay an effective starter that much if you have young pre-arb pitchers puttin in work in the rotation like Newcomb & Touki
Then when Guassman leaves as free agent Wright Could work for ATL if they got the cash after Donaldson/McCann signings
Something tells me Braves got more money to work with than has been let on. They didn’t nontender anybody and they went hard & fast for Donaldson after AA said they were looking more at trades than Free Agents
I would’nt be surprised if the DBacks’ owner asked Greinke to list the Dodgers on his NTC. Ken Kendrick haaaaaaaaaaaates the Dodgers. lol
Greinke is either the first or second best top of the rotation pitcher available (Corbin) this off-season, between free agents and trades. Since Corbin is looking for 6 years and over $120M, Greinke is more affordable. Greinke also has a stronger recent track record than Corbin. For those who spout the generalities that Greinke is 35 years old and has a 90 MPH fastball, I’d reply “Greg Maddux, Hall of Fame is the best comp”.
There are at least 8 teams looking for top of the rotation arms, 4 are on the no trade list, 4 are not. After Corbin signs somewhere, the other 7 teams will look toward Greinke.
The Dbacks are already paying $30M of deferred money from the first 3 years of Greinke’s contract. The Dbacks will also be paying $9M in signing bonus money. I predict the Dbacks will also pick up $7.5M in deferred money payments, leaving ‘$25M in deferred money, plus the $63M in salary, ($21M X 3 years) and the $2M assignment bonus for the team who gets a Greinke to pay.
Greg Maddux? I get that you’re a huge Greinke fan, but that’s an absurd comparison. They’re not remotely in the same league.
If you want a comp, you’d have to be more in line with David Cone. A mostly good and occasionally great starting pitcher.
Please see the above article and comments directly from AZ saying they don’t want to eat money to make the trade. If AZ gets what it wants, Greinke is going to cost $32M per year for the signing club or about $10M more per year than he’d get on the open market. It’s a salary dump for AZ. Sure, they’d be willing to eat some more salary if they got high end prospects in return, but it’s pretty doubtful AZ is going to eat $10M+ per year, dude.
Really not that far off he didn’t say Greinke was as successful as Maddox he simply compared the fact that he gets results basically off location & movement like Mad Dog
Not the 1st time I heard that comparison. Just Maddux was better at it.
Anthopolus of the Braves isn’t smart enough to get Greinke. He would rather pay 23,000,000 to someone not productive for 2 years. Plus look at the job he did in Toronto. Preller in SD also. Maybe if Greinke had a bad arm and was on the shelf for 2 years he would grab him.
2017 donaldson:.270.385.559.944 33hr in under 500abs not productive in your eyes?
The Donaldson signing was brilliant if he turns up injury prone than Camargo is there to fill in and it’s a 1 year deal no crazy long commitment. If he has a big year then you offer him the QO and get a draft pick or he accepts and it’s only 1 more year or you just part ways and go after Arrenado next year.
The McCann deal confused me until I saw the price and sharing time with Flowers should make a quality platoon and his leadership for the young team particularly the young pitchers is priceless.
Very interested for the winter meeting and what else is up AA’s sleeves. RF, TOR SP, RP.
I can see Duvall getting the LF job and moving Acuna to RF. With Camargo/Culbertson getting time out there as well. All depends on how much money in the budget AA gets to play with.
Anthopolos is plenty smart
Greinke
Archie Bradley
Blaze Alexander
10 Mill
for
Teheran
O’Day
Newcomb
One of Gohara or Allard
Teheran and O’Day offset 20 mill from Greinke next year, the D’Backs get two pitchers they can plug right into their rotation, the Braves get an ace and a swingman + the other Alexander Brother, keep the fam together.
Kinda the opposite of what the Dodgers did last year with the Braves, offsetting some of this year’s obligations. Greinke seems like a great gamble to not regress IMO. The Braves just need a workhorse.
Why add Bradley?
Astros?
Greinke and Goldy for Fowler, weaver, and 1 prospect.
You must be a STL fan. lmao
Grienke has clauses to the big market teams cause of his anxiety issues. at 35 will never be a good match if he goes to a big market contender.
That’s such a tired narrative. Just because the dude experienced anxiety issues years and years ago doesn’t mean squat now. He literally signed with a big market team when he agreed to terms with the Dodgers. How do you explain that?
I explain that by saying the sports media in LA is weak. It’s movie stars and Hollywood socialites to share the spotlight. It’s nothing compared to Boston or NY. You gotta really have tough skin to succeed in NY especially the Yankees.
He still has anxiety disorder – it doesn’t just go away. I don’t think his NTC has to do with his anxiety at all, or the media – I think those are tired narratives. There are plenty of players who, for whatever reasons, don’t want to play in NYC or Tampa Bay or LA or Toronto or….you get the point. When you reach a point that Greinke has reached, you should get a say in where you and your family live.
Don’t think the Braves are going to be able to snatch up Greinke but how bout Archie Bradley for the pen?
Maybe a package of Peralta & Bradley for Wright, Pache & Wentz.
Off topic but does Soroka & Riley get Hanigar ????
no
God, I hope not. Sign a filler and wait for Pache to mature.
There comes a point in time in a rebuild where you gotta make moves for the now. You can’t always wait for the next prospect. I am a realistic Braves fan in the sense I realize they were really not that good last year. They were good but not as good as their record says. They beat up on a horrible division.
With that being said they are not that far off so I believe it’s time to add some pieces that are proven and will be here for some time. But to get something you gets give something. By the time Pache is ready it will be around the time Folty will be lookin FA in the face. This is the time to start adding pieces that will give a 3-5 year window.
Bradley provides a much neeeded dominate bullpen arm & Peralta gives an all star level OF
Now if you were to say switch Pache for Waters ok whatever but it comes a time when moves need to be made.
What about the Phillies. ??? Have Greinke Arretta and Nola. Boom Boom Boom. !!!
Just curious why people keeping mentioning a “TOR starting pitcher”? Do you mean a Toronto Blue Jays starting pitcher? Or am I missing something?
TOR means Top of The Rotation
Top Of Rotation Starting Pitcher
Basically an Ace
Could the Choo deal still work for the Rangers?
The DBacks will have to pick up about half his salary. Even then at half his price at $50 million at his age I bet no too many teams would want him.
Peralta isn’t going anywhere
From the Dbacks perspective, Greinke will be moved and Goldy will not be traded. Fans on this board want to see trades, that’s what this board is all about. But management often has a wholly different perspective. That’s the case with the Dbacks. Dbacks management said it would listen to offers on Goldy, fans interpreted those statements to mean that the Dbacks absolutely would trade Goldy and further, that the Dbacks were in full blown rebuild mode. Fans love to pick on the carcass of a full blown rebuilding club, often offering garbage for a perceived sell low position by the rebuilding team. The Dbacks have never stated that they are in full blown rebuild mode. In fact, they have stated or implied the opposite. Goldy will only be traded if a team is willing to do a huge overpay, and I don’t see that happening. The only possibility would be the Yankees, but it would take a package of Gray, Sanchez, Florian, Loiasiga, and Abreu. We all know that even the Yankees wouldn’t do that. So Goldy won’t be traded.
Fans have differing views of Greinke. Either he’s a crafty Ace who will age well, or he’s an aging soft tosser who is a head case and has an albatross contract. Management mostly sees Greinke as an Ace. Because of the structure of his contract, most teams who are looking for an Ace, view his contract as affordable. There are at least 8 teams looking for an Ace/TOR pitcher this off-season, and there aren’t that many available Aces/TORs. I would argue there are only 2 available via either trade or free agency—Greinke and Corbin. Some teams will gravitate toward Corbin’s youth. Other teams will gravitate toward Greinke’s affordability, short contract length and more established track record as an Ace. But all of those teams will probably have these 2 pitchers as Plan A and Plan B. So on the theory of supply and demand, I think Greinke will be traded. He will cost the buying team about $90M total, but only $21M each of the 3 years of his contract, the rest is deferred money. And it will cost the buying team what an Ace/TOR SP with 3 years of control typically costs in terms of prospects, i.e. one or two top 10 prospects and 2 more high ceiling, but low minors level prospects. The Dbacks might even be willing to take a large (but not albatross) contract, IF that player fits one of the Dbacks’ 4 positions of need—CF, C, Closer or SP.
a guy approaching 200 wins theses days are inpressive… wait im sorry ive been told wins dont matter anymore…
Because getting to 200 wins just requires you play on a lot of really good teams for most of your career… You don’t have to be especially good if you manage that
Which is why Wins don’t matter. They’re a team stat being awarded to an individual (just like RBI), so logically why would you ever use them as a way to measure talent?
Maybe the D-backs should attach Ketel Marte to Greinke’s contract, like the M’s did with Diaz. And Cano.
Rockies should swap Desmond or Jake McGee with Lambert and Welker for Greinke and Goldy. Then get Francisco Cervelli for Hilliard. Boom. Rockies are NL West favorites.
He wants nothing to do with the AL East. It would be interesting to see how many other pitchers with the no trade clause feel like that.
A lot of players actually put likely trade destinations on their no trade lists because it can give them leverage down the line to force things like extension talks or guaranteed options for them to agree to the trade