Greinke traded to Brewers for just about everything

[Ducksplatt]

Si.com Joe Posnanski has an interesting write up on this trade:

The Royals got prospects* from Milwaukee, but that in and of itself means nothing. See: Prospects mean nothing. Every team has them. The question from Kansas City’s perspective is this: Did they get PLAYERS who can help them win? I have spent the day asking baseball friends that very question. The answers are mixed. This trade, from Kansas City’s perspective, is complicated and foggy and, in the end, probably pretty unsatisfying (if you’re a Royals fan). We’ll get to all that in a minute.

http://joeposnanski.si.com/2010/12/19/t ... ?eref=sihp

[j127]

Brewers core players all under 30

The Blue Jays never had a shot at Greinke; they, too, were on his no-trade list, and the pitcher was not interested in playing for Toronto.

The Royals liked the Jays’ prospects, but the package they received from the Brewers included players who were closer to the majors.

The Jays could have offered shortstop Adeiny Hechavarria, center fielder Anthony Gose, a catcher such as J.P. Arencibia or Travis D’Arnaud and a young pitcher.

Hechavarria, 21, is 2-1/2 years younger than Alcides Escobar but has yet to play above Double A and is more expensive — he is entering the second year of a four-year, $10 million contract. Gose has yet to play above Class A and is not as good a bet in the short term as Lorenzo Cain.

From Ken Rosenthal. I guess we never had a shot at Greinke, according to Rosenthal. I guess that should end all the, "AA should have obtained him" talk.

[luvtheteam]

Grienke's smart. Why would he come and pitch in Toronto to face the Yankees 18 time, Boston 18 times and TB 18 times? He's got two years to try to set himself up for a Cliff Lee type contract...and that's a lot tougher to do playing in Toronto than it is in Milwaukee.

[wlujaysfan55]

Milwaukee was up until recently, on his no-trade list. Melvin probably traded for Marcum to show Greinke he was serious about competing. When the trade happened, Greinke took Milwaukee off the list. Pretty sure Melvin knew which teams were on the no-trade list & probably knew from Greinke's agent that Greinke would be willing to play for the Brewers contingent on an upgrade trade to show their commitment on competing in 2011.

If this is true, Melvin likely took the logical and strategic step of trading Lawrie knowing full well it wouldn't block a potential deal for Greinke.

[wlujaysfan55]

Grienke's smart. Why would he come and pitch in Toronto to face the Yankees 18 time, Boston 18 times and TB 18 times? He's got two years to try to set himself up for a Cliff Lee type contract...and that's a lot tougher to do playing in Toronto than it is in Milwaukee.

I agree - I'd bet his agents pushed him to pitch in a very weak division to maximize his stats for the payday he'll likely get in 2 years.