Zack Greinke officially joined the Arizona Diamondbacks on Tuesday, signing a six-year, $206.5 million contract. He will continue wearing No. 21.
Greinke agreed to terms with the Diamondbacks last week, though the agreement was pending a physical that the 32 year old took on Monday.
Greinke’s deal translates to an average annual value of $34.42 million, which sets a new Major League Baseball record.
That surpasses the $31 million average David Price received in his six-year, $217 million contract with the Boston Red Sox, which at the time tied with Miguel Cabrera for the highest annual average in baseball.
Moreover, the contract is the richest in Diamondbacks franchise history, beating the $68.5 million committed to Cuban native Yasmany Tomas in a six-year deal signed last offseason.
As much as the Dodgers were said to have re-signing Greinke as their top priority this offseason, they reportedly weren’t comfortable guaranteeing the right-hander a sixth year on a new contract.
The Dodgers have since set their sights on Hisahsi Iwakuma, luring him away from the Seattle Mariners on a reported three-year contract. Los Angeles has also been linked to trade talks for Atlanta Braves right-hander Shelby Miller and Miami Marlins ace Jose Fernandez.
Greinke went 19-3 last season and led the Majors with a 1.66 ERA, 225 ERA+ and 0.84 WHIP. He opted out of three years and $71 million remaining on a contract signed with the Dodgers in December 2012.
In three seasons with the Dodgers, Greinke was 51-15 with a 2.30 ERA, including 28-5 with a 2.04 ERA at Dodger Stadium. Los Angeles receives a compensatory pick between the first and second rounds of the 2016 draft for not re-signing Greinke.
