Former Cy Young award-winner Zack Greinke is expected to pitch in 2023, reports Jon Heyman of the New York Post. Heyman adds that the Royals are interested in a reunion for what would be Greinke’s age-39 season.
Greinke is the active career leader in innings pitched, having logged 3,247 innings over 19 seasons as a big leaguer. He has already put himself squarely within Hall of Fame consideration, having already amassed 223 wins and 2,882 strikeouts. If Greinke does return for a 20th season, he will give himself a chance to become the 20th player to strike out 3,000 batters. The odds of Greinke becoming a member of the 3,000 K club seem slim, however, as he will have to fan 118 batters, whereas he only punched out 73 in a full season of work last year.
Milestones aside, Greinke has proven he can still be an effective starter well into his late-30’s. In 26 starts during 2022, Greinke posted a 3.68 ERA. Though Greinke averages only 89.1 mph on his fastball and is in the second percentile in Whiff%, he issues fewer walks than 93% of all other big league pitchers. Just about all of his metrics indicate that Greinke will have to continue to draw on all the finesse he can muster to get outs. He registers well below league average in terms of average exit velocity and hard hit rate against.
The Royals seem like a perfect fit to accommodate Greinke’s 20th season. Kansas City has plenty of rotation uncertainty and room for him in their rotation. That’s not to say that Greinke’s prospective return to the Royals, albeit sentimental, is purely for nostalgia’s sake. Greinke had Kansas City’s second-best ERA of any regular starter, and was one of two Royals starters with an ERA below 5.00. While the righty may be able to find opportunities with more clear-cut contenders, he prioritized returning to Kansas City as a free agent last offseason. Despite reportedly receiving similar offers from the Twins and Tigers, Grienke inked a $13MM deal with K.C. On the heels of a career-low strikeout rate, he may find a slightly lesser deal in free agency this time around.
Should have won CY in 2015.
Also, Singer and Greinke were the two starters with ERAs under 5. So far under 5, they were sub 4.
I dunno about that, Arrieta had an insane year too. That was probably as coin flip as a cy young race could be. Regardless, Greinke is extremely unheralded for the outstanding career he has had.
“Scruff McGruff, Chicago Illinois, 60652”
It was close. I think Greinke had a better year overall, but the more noteworthy games went to Arrieta and I think those memorable moments pushed him past. The no hitter (I think I’m remembering that right?) and I think he had 2 more CGs and maybe one was a shutout. Plus more Ks.
It didn’t hurt that Arrieta, in his last 12 starts of 2015, was 12-0 with a 0.41 ERA. During the same period, Greinke “slumped” to 10-1 with a “bloated” 2.13 ERA. Then Kershaw – that stiff – was 8-1 in those last 2 months, with a “middling” 1.55 ERA.
Some incredible, insane pitching, huh?
Yea still didn’t win
People don’t realize it, but Greinke has had a borderline Hall of Fame career. He has better career numbers than Wainwright, and his career numbers aren’t far off from Verlander’s, and Verlander is a first ballot HOF guy, IMO.
Greinke is a lock.
I think it’s easy to look over him bc he’s never been overpowering. He was more so earlier in his career, but he’s always been a crafty pitcher that just knew how to use his stuff well. When I look at his number closer, I agree – borderline wasn’t the right word – he should get in easily.
Agreed. His career arc has been awesome to watch. He just quietly goes about his business and his growth/adjustments to remain competitive are admirable.
Like I doubt Gerritt Cole will be the type of player to adjust to cover his deficiencies that come with age like Greinke. Being able to acknowledge your decline and take measures to remain relevant has to be a tough pill to swallow for a lot of players.
Plus, Greinke is just a cool dude.
Yup – writers and fans love Greinke bc he’s weird as hell, but in a good way. I watched a 90 minute YouTube video on all the weird crap he’s done in the past.. I had no intentions of watching all 90 minutes, but I couldn’t stop.
can you link/suggest key words to find it? I’d love to see that video, haha.
YouTube “How Zack Greinke became weirdest player in baseball.” It’s a 20 minute clip of the full video. Not sure where the rest is, but still lots of good stuff
Greinke is a PR disaster. He won’t lift a finger to get involved in the community. And he’s the crappiest interview in baseball. One word answers, zero eye contact. Check the stories about it when he pitched for the Diamondbacks.
The dude has dealt with anxiety a lot of his life.. he is admittedly an awkward turtle, but he’s embraced. I don’t see how he’s a PR disaster.. because he isn’t a typical interview? He doesn’t enjoy the interviews? He’s paid to play baseball, and he does it very well. He’s never had any legal trouble that I know of, no domestic violence rumors. His biggest flaw is that he’s quirky and weird. What a terrible guy! I’ll take that PR disaster all day. Marcell Ozuna would like a word.
@Rexwood He’s been openly talking about his mental health struggles throughout his career. Greinke also mentioned how he enjoyed not having fans in the stand during 2020 and not talking nor signing autographs. Mike Mussina was another guy like that. He did his job well and went home to go farming.
Hector Olivera=Disaster
Greinke=Completely regular person
Wow ! Rex, everything on tv is scripted buddy. Come to terms w it. Good for him for not wanting to be part of that
Wow he sat on the mound soooooo quirky!!!
Jim Kaat was the lefthanded version of Grienke. He was thrower early in his career ( White Sox) and became a pitcher later in his long career ( Yankees ). He was smart enough to adjust his approach to pitching when his body told him he could not do things at 31 that he could do at 21. Bartolo Colon was the same way. No more fireballs, but pitches with so much movement they fell to the left, the right, and off the table near the batter.
Much respect to Grienke for being able to do the same.
Great video. Entertaining.
Curious to see how the pitch clock effects his effectiveness. Love the mind games he plays with hitters. It’s like he has a strategy for each pitch within an at bat. Time he takes in between pitches seems to vary based on said strategy/logic. Cracks me up when he employs the “yell in to the catcher what the next pitch will be” strategy. Refreshing. Fun!
I love the honesty of the 2020 no fans quote. Many players were thinking it, he just was the one that said it.
Agreed – he is a lock – no-brainer selection for the HOF.
That’s why he’s hanging around. He’s on the doorstep of 3,000 K’s so he wants that badly. It’s like watching Johnny Damon being obsessed with 3,000 hits. That didn’t work. At least Zack has a legitimate shot.
miltpappas;
That’s why he’s hanging around? Really? Did he tell you that?
The man has been a pitch to contact guy for years. He doesn’t try to K people – he can’t anymore.
The main reason he signed with KC – and he told people there – was that they have the biggest park in MLB and stress defense…. particularly OF defense. That’s what he needs when he’s pitching.
I think those numbers make baseball great, pinnacle goals for a player, and when you are within reach, have to go for it.
33 players with 3K hits — only Rose and Cobb in the 4K club
28 players in the 500 HR club — Sosa, Thome, Griffey Jr., Mays, ARod in the 600 club — only Bonds, Aaron, Ruth and Pujols in the 700 club
19 players in the 3K K’s club — Clemens, Johnson and Carlton in the 4K club — only Nolan Ryan in the 5K club
24 players in the 300 Win clubs — Walter Johnson in the 400 club, only Cy Young in the 500 club
pretty awesome
if McGwire’s so-called record of most hr in a season can be erased because of PED, why do Bonds stats count? Aaron is all-time leader on hr, Ruth second and Pujols, third. All of bonds stats after he started taking steroids should be erased. So should sosa,ARod, McGwire, Canseco and Clemens.
Why do u say people don’t realize ?? Anyone that pays attention grienke was an elite pitcher. There’s nothing on this thread to suggest anything else
Grienke has been a lock for years now. He’s way better than a borderline case.
Assuming Wainwright (195) and Kershaw (197) get there next year, its insane to think how far away another potential 200 game winner would be. Also blows your mind thinking about the old school pitchers who threw over 300 innings in a season.
We’ll probably never see another 200 game winner. 150 might be magic number.
Right ! Winning games as a pitcher is tough ! Javier and Nola barely squeaked out a dozen wins a piece – that says a lot !
But Javier showed that he can be an awesome pitcher in game four of the WS.
Toronto Blue Jays should show some interest. Solid era for the back end of the rotation. Worth the 1 year deal he’d probably be seeking.
He’s in for sure ; he’s from Gold Glove city.
He is the perfect pitcher for the Pirates to have at the back of their rotation for two year so he can be allowed to chase that 3k benchmark.
I hope he get it and I hope he get into the Hall also…
Late 30s, not late 30’s.
Intelligence is knowing when the other person made a mistake.
Wisdom is knowing when not to tell them.
Greinke is still succeeding because he knows how to pitch, he changes speeds, he keeps the batter guessing. You don’t need to throw 100mph everytime.
He knows how to pitch