Arizona Diamondbacks Say No Zack Greinke Trade Until 2017
By Ron Juckett
With a lost season on the books, the Arizona Diamondbacks say they will not move Zack Greinke until 2017’s trade deadline at the earliest.
The Arizona Diamondbacks plan on keeping pitcher Zack Greinke around at least another half season.
Greinke, who the D’Backs signed in the offseason to a six-year $205 million deal, is 32 and spent time this year on the disabled list. When he pitches, he boasts a 12-4 record with an ERA of 4.17 and a WHIP of 1.243. Not stellar numbers.
A part of a quick fix rebuild to get Arizona into playoff contention, Greinke’s signing and the trade of top draft pick Dansby Swanson for Shelby Miller backfired. As of Friday, the Diamondbacks are 18 games behind the Los Angeles Dodgers in fourth place in the National League West.
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Announcing the former ace is off the market now is yet another blunder for the maligned front office duo of Tony La Russa and Dave Stewart. Panned nationally for the Miller trade, hanging manager Chip Hale out to dry over his job status and not having a firm grasp of the rules other front offices stick to, the pair has set the franchise back at least a couple seasons.
Greinke is a trade chip. The prospects Arizona lost to win now can come back in other pieces if they do their due diligence. Arizona may need to eat a chunk of the contract, but the veteran pitcher has trade value, especially in a very weak free agent market.
With the Dodgers last year, he sported a league-best 1.66 ERA, winning 19 games and posting an NL-best 0.844 WHIP. The talent is still there. The Dodgers inquired about him last month, Arizona declined.
When the season ends for the Diamondbacks, ownership will need to take a hard look at the direction of the club. Having a front office that is the butt of jokes across baseball is a good place to start. Stewart’s contract expires this year. If given the right guidance and training, he still may become a good executive. Right now, he is not.
If Greinke is in the long-term plans for Arizona, how will they build around him to make the team a contender in a stacked division? Behind Paul Goldschmidt, there is a fine core of young hitters and pitchers who are learning the hard way on the job. The roster as it stands now is not likely to be any better next year than this. A .500 record would be an accomplishment.
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It may be in the team’s best interest to hold on to Greinke. To make that public knowledge now takes away whatever leverage they have when the time comes. Another unforced error from a team who made too many this year.