Greinke trade finally paying off for Royals 4 years later
There are trades an organization makes that doesn't allow one side to truly evaluate its return until long after. No more is that evident than when the Kansas City Royals dealt Zack Greinke to the Milwaukee Brewers for a slew of prospects four years ago.
With the Brewers going all-in for the 2011 campaign, general manager Doug Melvin pulled the trigger on an offseason blockbuster that sent the team's starting shortstop Alcides Escobar, a future starting center fielder in Lorenzo Cain and first-round picks Jeremy Jeffress and Jake Odorizzi to the Royals in exchange for Cy Young winner Greinke and utility infielder Yuniesky Betancourt.
While Jeffress would eventually be designated for assignment, the other three pieces all have played a part in contributing to Kansas City's current postseason run.
Prior to the 2013 season, Royals general manager Dayton Moore packaged Odorizzi to Tampa Bay in return for staff ace James Shields and lights-out reliever Wade Davis – who owns a 1.23 ERA and nine strikeouts through 7 1/3 innings during the playoffs.
As Moore elected to part ways with both pitchers he acquired for Greinke, he held on to the two position players and is reaping the benefits. Cain has provided the Royals with Gold Glove-calibre defence, in addition to going 10-for-27 (.370) through six postseason games.
(Courtesy: MLB.com)
Following a strong regular season, Escobar is providing timely hitting, setting the table for the Royals' offense from the leadoff position, while doubling in the winning run in the ninth inning of Game 2 of the ALCS on Saturday.
(Courtesy: MLB.com)
Sometimes a trade requires years before the results are realized and the Royals appear pretty happy with how things have worked out.
“We wouldn’t be here without that trade,” Royals designated hitter Billy Butler told Tyler Kepner of the New York Times. “That’s why Dayton has the job of a GM. We, as players, can’t look at that trade off the bat and see what that does. But he can look at the long-term plan of one of those deals and how it translates into other deals. Dayton did a great job on that one.”