Zack Greinke, as expected, opted out of the final three years of his contract and became a free agent on Wednesday morning.
Greinke signed a six-year, $147 million contract with the Dodgers in December 2012. Greinke was scheduled to make $24 million in 2016, $23 million in 2017 and $24 million on the last year of the deal in 2018. Greinke has walked away from a guaranteed $71 million over the next three years. And he could double, if not triple, the $71 million in free agency according to Bill Shaikin.
Excel Sports Management represents Greinke.
Zack Greinke turned 32 last month (Oct. 21) and most see him as the favorite to win the NL Cy Young Award. Greinke was 19-3 in 32 starts for the Dodgers this past season with a 1.66 ERA, 0.84 WHIP and 2.76 FIP. Greinke allowed 43 runs, 41 earned, on 148 hits with 200 strikeouts and 40 walks in 222 1/3 innings.
The Dodgers would like to re-sign Greinke and the Giants are expected to make a big play for him. The Dodgers “are not expected to be interested in a contract” for Greinke that would “extend into his late 30s” according to the LA Times.
During his five years in the National League with the Dodgers and Brewers, Greinke is 76-24 in 141 starts with a 2.75 ERA, 1.08 WHIP and 2.91 FIP. Greinke owns a career mark of 142-93 with a 3.35 ERA, 1.18 WHIP and 3.31 FIP in 364 games, 323 starts.
The Yankees have been connected to Greinke in recent days but reports have suggested Brian Cashman is not looking to make another long-term commitment to a player in his early 30s.
The Cubs have also been mentioned as a possible destination for Zack Greinke. It is unclear how much the Cubs are interested in Greinke or if the connection is purely agent driven in order to increase his price tag. The Red Sox is another team that could be an option for Greinke.
With the deal Greinke will receive there are only a few teams with deep enough pockets to afford him. And most feel Zack Greinke will return to the Dodgers with a new contract.