The Los Angeles Dodgers were surprisingly outbid by the division rival Arizona Diamondbacks for free-agent starting pitcher Zack Greinke as Arizona signed him to a six-year, $206.5 million deal.
The Diamondbacks took control of what was believed to be bidding war between the Dodgers and San Francisco Giants, luring Greinke with a guaranteed sixth year and Major League Baseball record $34.42 million average annual salary.
Dodgers president of baseball operations Andrew Friedman stated last winter the club would not extend Greinke’s contract at that time. The right-hander was entering the third of a six-year deal signed with the Dodgers in December 2012.
That decision, along with choosing not to hold extension talks during the 2015 season reportedly did not sit well with Greinke. According to Ken Gurnick of MLB.com, Friedman said the reasoning was so as not to create a distraction:
It’s a distraction during the season,” he said. “What if his performance would have fallen off and we wouldn’t have won the West? Most teams don’t do it because it’s a distraction.”
Friedman acknowledged the Diamondbacks’ late but aggressive entry in the Greinke sweepstakes and said he’s now focused on improving the Dodgers for years to come:
Obviously hearing the Arizona side, they came up very, very late and it was fast and furious and they ended with Zack, and they’re happy and it’s great for them,” he said. “Zack has been a significant part of our success for three years, we wish him well and we’re focused on how to construct the best team for 2016 and beyond.”
Diamondbacks general manager Dave Stewart said the allure of taking Greinke from the Dodgers factored into his club’s assertive pursuit of the right-hander. After losing out on Greinke the Dodgers agreed to a three-year, $45 million contract with 34-year-old Hisashi Iwakuma.
With a question as to whether Hyun-Jin Ryu will be ready by Opening Day of the 2016 season, the Dodgers are still in the market to add another starting pitcher. It’s believed they’ve now set their sights on Johnny Cueto, who is arguably the best free-agent starter still available.
