In a market flush with starting pitchers, Zack Greinke and David Price headline the group of players available this winter. Though, an ESPN survey had Greinke edging Price as the preferred signing.
Greinke, 32, and Price, 30, arrived at free agency in two separate fashions. Greinke opted out of the remaining three years and $71 million remaining on his contract, and was extended the one-year, $15.8 million qualifying offer by the Los Angeles Dodgers.
Meanwhile Price was traded midseason by the Detroit Tigers after the club decided to become sellers prior to the trade deadline. In being dealt during the year, Price wasn’t eligible for the qualifying offer from the Toronto Blue Jays.
The Chicago Cubs, Dodgers and San Francisco Giants are among the teams looking to spend in order to bolster their respective starting rotation. According to Patrick Mooneyof CSN Chicago, the Cubs intend to meet with Greinke, Price and Jordan Zimmermann:
#Cubs planning to sit down with the agents for David Price, Zack Greinke and Jordan Zimmermann during this week's GM meetings in Boca Raton.
— Patrick Mooney (@CSNMooney) November 10, 2015
Greinke went 19-3 with an MLB-best 1.66 ERA, 225 ERA+ and 0.84 WHIP in 2015. He was voted by his peers as the National League Outstanding Pitcher on Monday, and on Tuesday was named a finalist for the 2015 NL Cy Young Award and won a second consecutive Gold Glove.
Price was 18-5 with a 2.45 ERA, 2.78 FIP and 1.08 WHIP overall in 2015. He made 21 starts with the Tigers and 11 starts with the Blue Jays. He appeared in four postseason games (three starts), finishing 1-2 with a 6.17 ERA, 1.07 WHIP, and 23 strikeouts to three walks in 23.1 innings.
Price is one of three finalists for the American League Cy Young. He previously won the award in 2012, and finished sixth in voting last year and second in 2010.
After Greinke and Price, the next crop of starting pitchers available includes Johnny Cueto, Yovani Gallaro, Scott Kazmir and Zimmermann, among others. Dodgers president of baseball operations Andrew Friedman identified pitching as a focal point this offseason.
Los Angeles is said to view Greinke as their top option, followed by Price.
