Arizona Diamondbacks: Does Zack Greinke stay or go?

If the Arizona Diamondbacks wish to retain J.D. Martinez and renegotiate with Paul Goldschmidt, they need to free up some money. Moving Zack Greinke would help.

Coming into the offseason, the Arizona Diamondbacks should have two priorities. That’s on top of dealing with 14 restricted free agents who need 2018 contracts.

First, Ken Kendrick, the club’s managing general partner and the man with the checkbook, should open negotiations with first baseman Paul Goldschmidt. A pattern of consistent production between the lines and a leader in the community, Goldschmidt’s 2017 value of $8.750 million was grossly underpaid. At the same time, Goldschmidt is under control for the next two years and then entertains an option year. The Diamondbacks need to show an appreciation for what he has done for the franchise, and be pro-active.

To retain outfielder J.D. Martinez for 2018 and possibly beyond, plus deal with Goldschmidt, there is a second event. That would be dealing pitcher Zack Greinke and the remainder of his original 2016 deal of six-years, $206.5 million contract. The Diamondbacks would then use this money to sign Martinez and others.

If the Diamondbacks wish to trade Greinke, they face two potential barriers.

First, there would have to an interest by clubs to secure Greinke’s services, and a willingness to pick up the remaining $138 million due. The second issue is perhaps more challenging for Mike Hazen, the Arizona GM, who would be entrusted to move Greinke.

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This would be Greinke’s trade agreement. When the veteran right-hander signed that 6-year deal with Arizona, a stipulation was put into the arrangement that Greinke could block a trade to 15 teams. Should there be interest on the behalf of other clubs, those teams would have to fall under Greinke’s criteria. At the same time, Greinke could waive the stipulation that he not be moved to a particular team.

Beyond economics, Greinke failed to pitch well down the stretch and in the playoffs.

Finishing with a record of 17-7 and a 3.20 ERA for the season, Greinke won one game from September 5 until conclusion of the NLDS. That victory a 2-0 win at San Francisco on Sept. 16, and for the month of September, Greinke went 1-1 and three no-decisions. In those five outings, the Diamondbacks went 2-3, and Greinke suffered his worst outing of the season on Sept. 22 at home against Miami. Here, he allowed eight runs in four innings.

In the postseason, the numbers did not improve.

In the Wild Card game against the Rockies, Greinke was knocked out after four innings, and could not hold a 6-0 lead. In the game in which the Diamondbacks were eliminated, Greinke lost 3-1 to Yu Darvish, and lasted five innings plus one batter. That one hitter was Austin Barnes, who rocked Greinke for a lead-off homer in the sixth inning.

Greinke, who turns 34-years-old on Oct. 21, could be regarded as a pitcher with diminishing skills. His fastball rarely clocks above 91 or 92 miles per hour, and needs to be exact with his secondary pitches, placement and location. If Greinke misses his spots, he becomes instantly vulnerable.

All of which may make Greinke a tough sell. Throughout the season and into the playoffs, manager Torey Lovullo consistently referred to Greinke as “our guy,” and perhaps for good reason. Greinke did finish among the leaders in victories, and tied with three others with 17 wins in the majors. That was one behind Clayton Kershaw, Corey Kluber, Carlos Carrasco and Jason Vargas for the major-league lead.

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Going forward, Greinke’s age will likely be an equal consideration to his salary. Obligated to the Diamondbacks for four more years, Greinke’s short-term and long-term value, along with the need to free up money for what is expected to be a costly offseason, are challenges for Hazen in the coming weeks.

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