Zack Greinke is under contract with the Royals for the next two seasons. In 2011 and 2012 he is due to make $13.5 million each season. Greinke is not a free agent, so his name has been flying under the radar a bit with all of the big free agent players names making all of the headlines as of late. However, one thing is clear: the Royals are definitely open to trading their ace. The only problem for most teams is that the Royals are asking for a lot in return.
Reports have surfaced saying that the Royals are asking for at least 3 top prospects and 2 major league ready players. Many teams who would love to add Greinke to their rotation simply cannot meet this request. Some teams don't have enough players to fulfill the trade value the Royals have attached to their star ace.
One team I see with a chance at Greinke would be Texas. If the Rangers cannot re-sign Cliff Lee, they will most likely want to add another big name pitcher to their rotation. Zack Greinke could be a perfect fit and the Rangers are one of the few teams that could meet their ridiculous trade demands. The Rangers have some of the best minor league talent in baseball. The Rangers could put a package together including P Martin Perez, P Kasey Kiker, OF Mitch Moreland or C's Taylor Teagarden or Max Ramirez, along with maybe Michael Young since they are wanting to get rid of him for some reason. I think the only way they do the latter is if they managed to sign Adrian Beltre. Texas probably has the best chance at landing Greinke if they have to.
Another team in on the Greinke discussion is the Brewers. I do not know what prospects or players they would trade, but they seem to be in on the discussion. The Yankees could too get in on Greinke, but he would almost certainly cost them Phil Hughes, who they have not been willing to part with in the past. There have been reports of the Nationals being in on a Greinke trade idea. However, this would cost them players they really cannot go without in the future, such as Ian Desmond. It would create other holes in their roster that would only hinder their future success. I think the Royals might be asking too much, but they seem to be intent on keeping the price high, as they appear to really be in a place to build a team.
Greinke's first few years in MLB were tenuous to say the least. After a rookie season in which he finished 4th in ROY voting, he followed that up by losing a major league worst 17 games, and posting a 5.80 ERA. Greinke missed the entire 2006 season suffering from depression and social anxiety disorder. He returned in 2007 and went 7-7 with a 3.69 ERA. Then from 2008-2010, he has posted a 39-32 record with a 3.25 ERA and 202 Ks a season. He has pitched 200+ innings each season. He unanimously won the AL Cy Young in 2009 going 16-8 with a 2.16 ERA, 1.07 WHIP and 242 Ks.
He is certainly a top pitcher, and if he were on a better team would have a much better win/loss record. He would benefit from much better defense and hitting on another team. Whether he goes to the Rangers, Yankees, Brewers or another team next year, it will probably be an upgrade from his current situation. It looks almost certain that he will be traded before Opening Day next season. The Royals have added Jeff Francoeur and Melky Cabrera, which aren't going to help his chances much post more wins or pitch in the playoffs. It would be good to see him leave the AL Central too.
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