Greinke: Signing with D-Backs had 'zero to do' with Puig

When Zack Greinke returned to Chavez Ravine on Tuesday for the first time since signing a six-year, $206.5-million deal with the Diamondbacks, the 32-year-old right-hander made it clear he didn't leave Los Angeles for Arizona because of a reported beef with former Dodgers teammate Yasiel Puig.

"Honestly, that had zero to do with anything," Greinke told reporters Tuesday afternoon ahead of the Dodgers' home opener.

Last year, as Greinke cruised to a 1.66 ERA and a second-place finish in NL Cy Young voting, Puig's popularity (or lack thereof) in the Dodgers clubhouse became a major issue, and Greinke was reportedly at the center of two different altercations with the polarizing Cuban throughout his tenure in Los Angeles.

During spring training, Puig reportedly squabbled with teammates over who should be allowed on a flight that typically includes wives and girlfriends. According to Molly Knight, Greinke was among those who argued with Puig when the subject of someone from Puig's entourage joining the plane ride came up.

The year before, the two clashed during a road trip to Chicago, as well. Puig, then 23, was allegedly holding up the team bus by looking for his luggage in the carriage underneath, and after he ignored several requests to close the luggage bay, Greinke got off the bus and hurled the suitcase in front of Puig onto the street. Puig then stepped toward Greinke, but was restrained by J.P. Howell.

Still, Greinke said, the tension with Puig didn't compel him to opt out of his deal with the Dodgers - a decision that made him the highest paid player, in terms of average annual salary ($34.4 million), in MLB history.