Zack Greinke officially is a free agent, but that doesn’t mean he’s going anywhere.
The 32-year-old right-hander and National League Cy Young candidate opted out of his contract with the Los Angeles Dodgers on Wednesday, just as he was expected to. However, all signs (for now) point to Greinke remaining in Los Angeles.
Greinke was set to make $71 million over the next three years, which at about $23 million per season is less than Justin Verlander, Jon Lester, Felix Hernandez and Cole Hamels. Exercising his opt out should get Greinke a significant raise in the area of $125 million or so, and likely is just his way of renegotiating with the Dodgers.
Greinke finished 2015 with a 19-3 record, a 1.66 ERA and a 0.84 WHIP, and the Dodgers can’t afford to lose that production. But as the owners of Major League Baseball’s highest payroll last season, they can afford to dish out another big contract.
Still, if Greinke is taking calls and another team has more to offer, the starter possibly could be open to leaving California.
Thumbnail photo via Kamin-Oncea/USA TODAY Sports Images
