Report: Greinke looking for $30M annual payout
Zack Greinke wants the big bucks, and it could be one of the Los Angeles Dodgers or San Francisco Giants who give the right-hander what he craves.
The 32-year-old Greinke is believed to seeking a deal that will pay him $30 million per year, according to ESPN's Jerry Crasnick.
Crasnick also reports that the market for 2015's ERA leader is quietly heating up, with the Dodgers and Giants looking for clarity.
If Greinke decided to stay with the Dodgers, he'd be in familiar territory having formed an impressive one-two punch with Clayton Kershaw since 2013. If he bolted from L.A. to the Bay Area, he would join a Giants rotation in desperate need of a complement for ace Madison Bumgarner.
The Giants used nine different starting pitchers in 2015.
| PLAYER | GS | W-L | ERA | WHIP | SO |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Madison Bumgarner | 32 | 18-9 | 2.93 | 1.01 | 234 |
| Chris Heston | 31 | 12-11 | 3.95 | 1.31 | 141 |
| Tim Hudson | 22 | 8-9 | 4.44 | 1.38 | 64 |
| Ryan Vogelsong | 22 | 9-11 | 4.67 | 1.47 | 108 |
| Jake Peavy | 19 | 8-6 | 3.58 | 1.12 | 78 |
| Tim Lincecum | 15 | 7-4 | 4.13 | 1.48 | 60 |
| Matt Cain | 11 | 2-4 | 5.79 | 1.50 | 31 |
| Mike Leake | 9 | 2-5 | 4.07 | 1.19 | 29 |
| Yusmeiro Petit | 1 | 1-1 | 3.67 | 1.18 | 59 |
Greinke opted out of his contract with the Dodgers in early November, leaving a guaranteed $71 million on the table so he could pursue a more lucrative long-term offer on the open market.
The former Cy Young winner, who earned $25 million last season, is one of the top two pitchers available in free agency, along with southpaw David Price, and could command the contract he desires.
Greinke finished second to Jake Arrieta for the National League Cy Young with a 19-3 record, 1.66 ERA, and 0.84 WHIP in 32 starts and 222 2/3 innings of work.