UPDATE (Dec. 4, 5:15 p.m. PT): Zack Greinke reportedly agreed to a six-year contract with the Arizona Diamondbacks.
After David Price agreed to a seven-year, $217 million contract with the Boston Red Sox, the free agent spotlight shifted squarely to Zack Greinke.
Los Angeles Dodgers part owner Magic Johnson labeled Greinke the club’s top priority this offseason.
The Dodgers are believed to be part of a bidding war with the rival San Francisco Giants for Greinke’s services.
A point of emphasis for the 32-year-old right-hander is the average annual value of a new deal, which Greinke reportedly wants to be greater than what Price received.
While the Dodgers appear focused on re-signing Greinke, their secondary options include Johnny Cueto, according to Jon Heyman of CBS Sports:
It is believed the Dodgers have interest in Cueto as a fallback option, as they liked him at the deadline before deciding they didn’t want to part with their very top prospects for him, or anyone else.
Coming off mixed results with the Kansas City Royals in the regular season, Cueto was dominant in his lone World Series outing against the New York Mets.
He threw a complete-game, allowing just one run on two hits to help Kansas City take a 2-0 series lead. Including time with the Cincinnati Reds, Cueto went 11-13 with a 3.44 ERA, 3.53 FIP, 1.13 WHIP and 176 strikeouts to 46 walks in 212 innings pitched.
Over his eight-year career, Cueto is 96-70, with a 3.30 ERA, 3.82 FIP, 122 ERA+, and 1.18 WHIP.
Along with Cueto, the Dodgers also have Jeff Samardzija on their radar, via ESPN’s Jayson Stark:
The Dodgers and Giants both are said to have strong interest if Greinke goes elsewhere.
It was previously reported Samardzija has a $90 million offer in hand, with the Chicago Cubs among his list of suitors. He was 11-13 with a 4.96 ERA, 4.23 FIP and 1.30 WHIP over 32 starts in his first season with the Chicago White Sox.
Samardzija, also an eight-year veteran, is a lifetime 47-61 with a 4.09 ERA, 3.84 FIP, 96 ERA+, and 1.28 WHIP.
