Jays thinking on Zack Greinke Offer

North_of_Border · Post #1 » by **North_of_Border** » Wed Nov 11, 2015 2:10 am

As reported by TSN:

The Toronto Blue Jays are considering extending a contract offer to free-agent pitcher Zack Greinkeand while the team would be considered a long-shot to sign him, the move would establish that the Jays are planning to double down on this year's playoff-calibre team.

Greinke, 32, is arguably the most coveted free agent in baseball this winter. He was 19-3 this season with a major-league best 1.66 earned-run average. He opted out of his contract with the Los Angeles Dodgers with three years and $71 million still guaranteed.

A baseball executive familiar with the Jays plans told TSN that Greinke is among the most cerebral players in the game and is familiar with the Jays' potent lineup, pitching staff and its recently overhauled front office.

Greinke's agent did not reply to an email.

Greinke is also the odds-on favourite to win the National League Cy Young Award.

In the meantime, it's unlikely the Jays will pursue a long-term contract with American League Cy Young finalist David Price. The baseball executive said some scouts believe Greinke has a better chance than Price to maintain his effectiveness into his late 30s. And that's a reasonable assessment, said TSN baseball analyst and former New York Mets general manager Steve Phillips.

"A couple things worry me about David Price," Phillips explained. "He recoils in his delivery. Instead of following through with his arm after he throws the ball, he stops and pulls the arm back. That's deceleration and that's where injuries can take place."

"Also, if his velocity drops, Price will need high quality secondary pitches and he really doesn't have those," Phillips said. "Greinke has quality secondary stuff and I think he'll be better later in his career than Price."

Phillips added that Greinke may cost a team more money per year, but he could be signed for a shorter term than Price. "Maybe you sign Greinke for five years instead of seven with Price," he said. "Making a contract offer now would also make a statement for the Blue Jays.

"American players have a reluctance to go to Toronto. They think about the hassle for themselves and their families to go across border. If the Jays want a guy, they have to go above and beyond and make a statement. So differentiating themselves from the market can be important. Greinke is a bit different, quirky in some ways. This sort of thing may mean something to him."

Greinke is one baseball's best stories. He walked away from the game in 2006, battling social anxiety disorder and depression, according to a story on MLB.com. He later returned to the majors, crediting a prescription of the medicine Zoloft, and went on to win the Cy Young Award in 2006 before signing a then-record $147-million deal with the Dodgers.

The MLB.com story reported Greinke remains "uncomfortable" when he's recognized on the street.

Wo1verine · Post #2 » by **Wo1verine** » Wed Nov 11, 2015 2:21 am

Shi Davidi , Mike Wilner and any other personality that covers the Jays for SN can learn a little from TSN's Rick Westhead when it comes to providing info about the birds.

I am all for Greinke - Probably take 6-7 years $20M-$25M per for him to leave LA for Canada.

North_of_Border · Post #3 » by **North_of_Border** » Wed Nov 11, 2015 2:54 am

Wo1verine wrote:Shi Davidi , Mike Wilner and any other personality that covers the Jays for SN can learn a little from TSN's Rick Westhead when it comes to providing info about the birds.

I am all for Greinke - Probably take 6-7 years $20M-$25M per for him to leave LA for Canada.

Greinke just opted out of a nice contract and is gonna win Cy Young. Its gonna cost more than that to lock him up.... We were paying Burhle 20 million. Estrada just got 15.8 offer.

Probably 30-32 million range.... But shorter term. Like 5-6 years considering his age.

Lateral Quicks · Post #4 » by **Lateral Quicks** » Wed Nov 11, 2015 2:54 am

I too worry a bit about Price's long-term health given that violent recoil in his delivery.

They both have lots of mileage on their arms. If they think Greinke will age better, and he can be signed for 5 years max, you'd have to strongly consider that. I'd do $125M for 5 years, and probably more. He has his personal issues to deal with, but they obviously didn't affect his performance last year.

North_of_Border · Post #5 » by **North_of_Border** » Wed Nov 11, 2015 2:57 am

Wo1verine wrote:Shi Davidi , Mike Wilner and any other personality that covers the Jays for SN can learn a little from TSN's Rick Westhead when it comes to providing info about the birds.

I am all for Greinke - Probably take 6-7 years $20M-$25M per for him to leave LA for Canada.

Greinke just opted out of a nice contract and is gonna win Cy Young. Its gonna cost more than that to lock him up.... We were paying Burhle 20 million. Estrada just got 15.8 offer.

Probably 30-32 million range.... But shorter term. Like 5-6 years considering his age.

cram · Post #6 » by **cram** » Wed Nov 11, 2015 3:07 am

5 for 150

cram · Post #7 » by **cram** » Wed Nov 11, 2015 3:17 am

Any chance that a dude with his introverted mental issues wants to leave a city he's obviously comfortable in? Introverts don't usually like change.

Randle McMurphy · Post #8 » by **Randle McMurphy** » Wed Nov 11, 2015 4:49 am

Give him all the money.

Mohanad · Post #9 » by **Mohanad** » Wed Nov 11, 2015 5:05 am

Really wish AA was still here to swing for the fences. I have zero confidence in Rogers to sign either Price or Greinke. Sigh...............

Boogie! · Post #10 » by **Boogie!** » Wed Nov 11, 2015 5:11 am

that would be sick... also, i realize that hes suffered from anxiety and so forth and i dont really wanna make fun of him for it, nor do i know if it has any correlation to this, but hes got the ice cold stare of patrick bateman...

Jays4WS · Post #11 » by **Jays4WS** » Wed Nov 11, 2015 12:17 pm

cram wrote:Any chance that a dude with his introverted mental issues wants to leave a city he's obviously comfortable in? Introverts don't usually like change.

He has anxiety, he already left KC to go to LA and he is currently playing in one of the most populated cities in North America. Obviously the prescriptions are doing there job otherwise he would have walked away from the game again.

Santoki · Post #12 » by **Santoki** » Wed Nov 11, 2015 12:46 pm

Mohanad wrote:Really wish AA was still here to swing for the fences. I have zero confidence in Rogers to sign either Price or Greinke. Sigh...............

AA wasn't exactly known for his swinging for the fences approach in FA. Whether that was a product of Beeston or an ownership group that didn't understand how successful the team could be is up for debate but let's not act like this team can't sign a FA because AA is gone.

Skin Blues · Post #13 » by **Skin Blues** » Wed Nov 11, 2015 1:21 pm

North_of_Border wrote:
Wo1verine wrote:Shi Davidi , Mike Wilner and any other personality that covers the Jays for SN can learn a little from TSN's Rick Westhead when it comes to providing info about the birds.

I am all for Greinke - Probably take 6-7 years $20M-$25M per for him to leave LA for Canada.

Greinke just opted out of a nice contract and is gonna win Cy Young. Its gonna cost more than that to lock him up.... We were paying Burhle 20 million. Estrada just got 15.8 offer.

Probably 30-32 million range.... But shorter term. Like 5-6 years considering his age.

He opted out of 3/72 which only means he wants more than 3/72. No reason to bump that to 32M/year for a long term deal. He's not Kershaw. And he's 32 years old, which is how old Kershaw will be after his $215M contract expires. I'd be surprised if he gets more than 6/165. He signed for 6/147 as a 29 year old and he's pretty much the exact same pitcher as he was back then, except 3 years older with 600+ more innings on the odometer.

Raps in 4 · Post #14 » by **Raps in 4** » Wed Nov 11, 2015 1:55 pm

I suggested this before. Makes much more sense than going after Price.

Scott Hall · Post #15 » by **Scott Hall** » Wed Nov 11, 2015 2:26 pm

If we don't end up with Greinke or Price I'm gonna be extremely bummed out

Randle McMurphy · Post #16 » by **Randle McMurphy** » Wed Nov 11, 2015 2:27 pm

Scott Hall wrote:If we don't end up with Greinke or Price I'm gonna be extremely bummed out

You're setting yourself up for some disappointment then.

Scott Hall · Post #17 » by **Scott Hall** » Wed Nov 11, 2015 2:29 pm

Randle McMurphy wrote:
Scott Hall wrote:If we don't end up with Greinke or Price I'm gonna be extremely bummed out

You're setting yourself up for some disappointment then.

Yup I've already planned my **** Rogers Fantasy baseball team name for next year

dagger · Post #18 » by **dagger** » Wed Nov 11, 2015 3:02 pm

I think we might end up with someone like Samardzija- a 2015 disappointment of sort - in the second slot behind Storman, with Osuna or Sanchez or both moving into three and/or four and Dickey bringing up the rear. Samardzija plus a closer would be cheaper and less risky than Greinke or Price.

rarefind · Post #19 » by **rarefind** » Wed Nov 11, 2015 3:08 pm

If the Jays think Price will be too rich for their tastes, what makes you for a second think that Greinke is attainable?

Offers to Greinke *may* start at 5 years but someone will offer him 6 or 7 at 30m. In addition, Greinke has had issues with depression and social anxiety. He is clearly comfortable in LA, and the Dodgers and SFG will have deep pockets to keep him in the state. I strongly doubt a guy with such a history, medicated or not... opts to leave a situation that they have become comfortable with. Especially when the money is going to be there regardless. I really don't see a scenario where he leaves California let alone come to Toronto.

I just don't understand how published reports can say the Jays won't be in on Price but would have the ability to go after Greinke. Price would be a much more realistic target regardless of how difficult and unlikely that signing would be. The money difference won't be huge either. Even in the event that Greinke comes on a 5 year deal, the risk calculation should be similar to that of a 7 year deal with Price. Both contracts would carry either guy to their age 37 season. I simply think the Jays "interest" in Greinke is being cooked up and is baseless. Expect a guy like Zimmerman, Chen or Iwakuma while hopefully retaining Estrada via him accepting the QO or signing for longer. I for one would be very happy with the latter of those 3 if you concede to the logic that the Jays won't add Price or Greinke.

Stroman
Iwakuma
Estrada
Dickey
Sanchez

Randle McMurphy · Post #20 » by **Randle McMurphy** » Wed Nov 11, 2015 3:21 pm

dagger wrote:I think we might end up with someone like Samardzija- a 2015 disappointment of sort - in the second slot behind Storman, with Osuna or Sanchez or both moving into three and/or four and Dickey bringing up the rear. Samardzija plus a closer would be cheaper and less risky than Greinke or Price.

I'd prefer somebody actually good...so not Samardzija.